Concerns are being raised over the price of legal and revenue stamps.
Legal stamps cost Nu.10 and are required for legal documents like sale deeds and agreements. Without the legal stamp, the document is not legally binding. It does not carry any weight in a court of law.
Revenue stamps cost Nu.5. They are used for revenue and to authenticate the receipt and payment of money.
Both revenue and legal stamps are available in post offices across the country. But they are also sold in shops. People buy from the shops on weekends and public holidays during which the post offices are closed.
Shopkeepers who are being accused of overcharging say they have no choice but to overcharge. They do not receive any commission and cannot sell at the same price at which they buy from the post offices.
They also insist that people who urgently require the stamps are willing to pay their price.
The Bhutan Postal Corporation limited said they have no say in the matter. They only sell the stamps on behalf of the government.
“I don’t think we have any authority to control the buying and selling of the stamps,” said Rigzin Lhendup Dorji.
The Ministry of Finance which bears the printing cost said besides the Bhutan Postal Corporation Limited, no one is allowed to sell the stamps. And they have not received any complaint so far.
