Evasion of stamp duty: Punjab govt starts process of recovery

Punjab government has started the process of recovery of the amount lost by the state exchequer due to evasion of stamp duty, Revenue Minister Bikram Singh Majithia said today.
"The process of recovery has started and those found guilty will be dealt with," he said while answering a query regarding a RTI application filed by the Congress party (RTI cell) sometime back which had unravelled evasion of stamp duty in the state, resulting in loss to the tune of Rs 200 crore.
Asked if revenue officials were said to be guilty of charging deficient stamp duty which resulted in huge loss to the state exchequer, Majithia quipped that all the names will be tackled.

However, he did not say anything more on the matter.
After a PIL (Public Interest Litigation) was filed with Punjab and Haryana High Court in this regard, the court had directed the Punjab government to take appropriate action.
Majithia said e-stamping had started in the state and revenue work was being made further transparent and paperless.

The Minister, who also holds portfolio of New and Renewable Energy, called upon farmers to take to Solar Projects as part of crop diversification programme.
"Farmers should come forward to lease out their land for solar projects. It will be a win-win situation for them. They will earn from the lease as well as use their land, leaving aside traditional cropping," he said.

He admitted that government is faced with unavailability of land for undertaking renewable energy resources projects.