- The maximum number of licensed vendors for the sale of stamps [-] [The words 'except revenue stamps' which had been inserted by Punjab Government notification No. 4621-ST-1-58/2021-22, dated the 6th/12th June, 1958, omitted by Punjab Government notification No. GSR 243/CA 2/1899/S. 74/Amd (1)/66, dated the 3rd October, 1966.] at the headquarters of each district and tahsil, respectively, shall be fixed by the Collector of each district concerned in consultation with the Commissioner of the division, and the Collector shall not, without the concurrence of the Commissioner, issue licenses at such headquarters to persons in excess of the number so fixed. In the case of towns and villages which are not such headquarters the number of licenses to be granted shall be fixed by the Collector alone. The Collector may grant a temporary license for a limited period to any petition-writer or other person who accompanies on tour an officer whose duties necessitate the use of court-fee stamps by parties appearing before him.Notes. (i) The vend arrangements of each district, more particularly as regards the distribution of licenses in rural tracts, are in the hands of the Collector, who is responsible, on the one hand, that there is a sufficient number of vendors for the reasonable convenience of the public and, on the other, that a large number of petty vendors are not licensed in excess of local requirements.As regards the number of licenses required for sale of stamps in rural tracts, the Collector is the best judge but the number of licenses granted at Sadr stations and at the headquarters of tahsils has in some districts often called for remarks, and reduction has often seemed desirable. The Commissioner of the division is authorized to take action in the way of reduction, from time to time, when necessary, and the Collector in consultation with the Commissioner of the division, should fix a maximum number, for the Sadr station and each tahsil headquarters, which once fixed, must not be exceeded without the sanction of the Commissioner.(ii)The number of licenses for vend of stamps will, of course, vary according to the circumstances of each district, but care should be taken that an adequate number of licensed vendors is appointed, otherwise the public will be inconvenienced and the stamp revenue will suffer. On the other hand regard should be paid to the average earnings of stamp-vendors at district and tahsil headquarters. When these become too low the temptation to various malpractices arises and the demand for higher rates of commission is strengthened.(iii)As regards non-judicial stamps it should be the aim of the Collector to provide the sale of these within the easy reach of all. For this purpose licenses should be issued freely to rural sub or branch post-masters (ex officio and not by name) and village school masters. The concession allowed to this class of licences termed "special licenses" in Rule 26(iv) is that an advance may be made of non-judicial stamps at the start without payment of ready money up to a value not exceeding Rs. 50 for all stamps supplied to such licenses. In excess of this advance a special licenses is required to pay ready money less the discount admissible. The stamps supplied to him as well as his money remittances for their value to the nearest treasury or sub-treasury are to be sent through the post in insured parcels, the charges for postage and insurance being borne by the Stamp department. The licensee may remit the amounts by ordinary money order, the Stamp department bearing the charge for commission. The licensee receiving such advance shall give a receipt for the money value thereof, which receipt shall be renewed from year to year in the manner prescribed for permanent advances on account of contingent expenditure. When the Government servant ceases to be specially licensed or desires to discontinue the advance, he shall refund the value entered in the receipt, either in money or in stamps of the class which he is licensed to sell and shall be granted a receipt for the same by the officer to whom the refund is made the original receipt given by the specially licensed vendor being retained on behalf of Government. When any Government servant specially licensed, makes over charge to another Government servant also specially licensed, he shall obtain from him a receipt for the advance made over to him in stamps.(iv)It is manifest that a much smaller number of vendors will suffice for the retail of judicial stamps than for the retail of non-judicial stamps [-] [The words 'except revenue stamps' which had been inserted by Punjab Government memo No. 4621-ST-1-58/2021-22, dated the 6th/12th June, 1958, omitted by Punjab Government notification No. G.S.R. 243/C A. 2/1899/S. 74/Amd. (1)/66, dated the 3rd October, 1966.]. The former are rarely required except for use in a Court of law, and if they are readily procurable in the vicinity of the Court in which they are to be used, the public convenience, as well as the interests of the revenue, will be sufficiently provided for. What is essential is that at all places where there is a Court whether at a Sadr or tahsil station or in detached localities court-fee stamps shall be readily procurable both from treasurers and their agents and such "other vendors" as may be licensed. The right to sell court-fee stamps is no longer to be refused to "other vendors" selling non-judicial stamps.(v)While it is desirable that the contracting treasurer of the district or division through his agents, should not have a monopoly of the sale of stamps (Government of India resolution No. 5583-S.R., dated the 8th December, 1899), the Collector should see that the number of licensed stamp vendors provides a little healthy competition with the agents of the contracting treasurer at district and tahsil headquarters and is not so great as to reduce the profits of the contracting treasurer to an undesirable extent.
