Gurgaon: Revenue stamp shortage in post offices hits biz

Residents are a hassled lot with most city post offices in Gurgaon facing an acute shortage of Indian Postal Orders (IPO) and revenue stamps of certain denominations. HT reports.

Residents are a hassled lot with most city post offices in Gurgaonfacing an acute shortage of Indian Postal Orders (IPO) and revenue stamps of certain denominations.

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The stamps are needed for various financial transactions and by students to fill forms for competitive exams.

Postal orders of Rs.10 and Rs.50 are in high demand but are seldom available in Gurgaon post offices, including the one at Udyog Vihar where the area postal superintendant operates from.

Besides, it is hard to find Re.1 revenue stamps either in post offices or with agents at the district court complex in Gurgaon.

Though a postal department official in Gurgaon said it was a temporary problem that arose in the month of March, the Haryana State Information Commission last year, acting on an RTI application, had suggested that the department maintain an inventory of stamps.

“I checked with all post offices for postal orders of Rs.10 and Rs.50. Not one has a running stock for at least two months now. The problem is perennial. There was a similar case last year too which prompted me to file an RTI plea with the postal department,” said Aseem Takyar, a Gurgaon resident.

Replying to Takyar’s application in December last, the Department of Posts, which comes under the Union ministry of communications and IT, had said that “some states have withdrawn the facility of sale of revenue stamps through post offices on their own as they are not willing to pay the prescribed commission to the department for providing the service on their behalf.”

Meanwhile, there is also an acute shortage of sales tax forms — Form ‘C’ and Form ‘F’ — for nearly three months now. HT has already reported on the issue.

During an inter-state transaction, the declaration through Form C entitles a rebate of more than 11% — a businessman pays only 2% as against 13.13%. Whereas, any inter-state stock transfer is declared against Form F which also entitles a tax benefit.