The Indian Stamp Act, 1899

Section 33

In force · As amended up to 2026-08

Chapter IV: INSTRUMENTS NOT DULY STAMPED 33. Examination and impounding of instruments.—(1) Every person having, by law or consent of parties, authority to receive evidence, and every person in charge of public office, except an officer of police, before whom any instrument, chargeable, in his opinion, with duly is produced or comes in the performance of his functions, shall if it appears to him that such instrument is not duly stamped, impound the same. (2) For that purpose every such person shall examine every instrument so chargeable and so produced or coming before him, in order to ascertain whether itis stamped with a stamp of the value and descriptidn required by the law in force in India, when such instruments was executed or first executed: Provided that — (a) nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require any Magistrate or Judge of a Criminal Court to examine or impound, if he does not think fit so to do, any instrument coming before him in the course of any proceeding other than a proceeding under Chapter XII or Chapter XXXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); (b) in the case of a Judge of a High Court, the duty of the examining and impounding any instrument under this section may be delegated to such officer as the Court appoints in this behalf. (3) For the purposes of this section, in cases of doubt— (a) the State Government may determine what offices shall be deemed to be public offices; and (b) the State Government may determine who shall be deemed to be persons in charge of public offices. Comments and Case-law [An arbitration award is required to be made on stamped paper by Article 12. This defect in the arbitration award is curable under section 33 and it cannot be said that section 35 of the Stamp Act imposes a permanent bar on the powers of the court to make such an arbitration award a rule of the court, even if the defect 1. Ins.by Bihar Act 6 of 1937 (from 14,1938) 2. See now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) | Section 33(3): Examination and impounding of instruments (3) For the purposes of this section, in cases of doubt— (a) the State Government may determine what offices shall be deemed to be public offices; and (b) the State Government may determine who shall be deemed to be persons in charge of public offices. Comments and Case-law [An arbitration award is required to be made on stamped paper by Article 12. This defect in the arbitration award is curable under section 33 and it cannot be said that section 35 of the Stamp Act imposes a permanent bar on the powers of the court to make such an arbitration award a rule of the court, even if the defect 1. Ins.by Bihar Act 6 of 1937 (from 14,1938) 2. See now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) 96] Chapter II: STAMP-DUTIES A, Of the Liability of Instruments to Duly 3. Instruments chargeable with duty.—Subject to the provisions of this Act and the exemptions contained in Schedule |, the following instruments shall be chargeable with duty of the amount indicated in that Schedule as the proper duty therefor, respectively, that is to say:— (a) 'every instrument mentioned in that: previously executed by any person, IS execute first day of July, 1899; (b) every bill of exchange pay note drawn or made out 0 paid, or presented for acceptan or otherwise negotiated, in India; and (c) every instrument (other than a bill of exchange or promissory note) mentioned in that Schedule, which not having been previously executed by any person, is executed oul of India on or after that day, relates to any property situate, or to matter or thing done or to be done, in India and is received in India; "Provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided, in this Act, and notwithstanding anything contained in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this section or in Schedule |, the amount indicated in Schedule IA shall, subject to the exemptions contained in that Schedule, be the duty chargeable on the following instruments, mentioned in clauses (aa) and (bb) of this proviso, as the proper duty therefore respectively:— (aa) every instruments, mentioned in Schedule IA as chargeable with duty under that Schedule, which, not having been previously executed by any person, is executed in Bihar on or after the first day of January, 1938; and (bb) every instrument, mentioned in Schedule IA as chargeable with duly under that Schedule, which, not having been previously executed by any person, is executed out of Bihar on or after the first day of January, 1938 and relates to any property situated, or to any master or thing done or to be done, in Bihar and is received in Bihar:] Provided '[also] that no duty-shall be chargeable in respect of— (1) any instrument executed by, or on behalf of or in favour of, the Government in cases where, but for this exemption, the Government would be liable to pay the duty chargeable in respect of such instrument; (2) any instrument for the sale, transfer or other disposition, either absolutely or by way of mortgage or otherwise, of any ship or vessel, or any part interest, share or properly of or in any ship or vessel registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1897 (5) and 58Vicl, c (60) or under Act 19 of 1838 or the Indian Registration of Ships Act, 1841 (10 of 1841), as amended by subsequent Acts. 2{ "Provided further also that any entry in Schedule IA for the State of Bihar ————— at Schedule which, not having been din India on or after the able otherwise, than on demand or promissory f India on or after that day and accepted or ce or payment, or endorsed, transferred 7. Ins. by Bihar Act 6 of 1937. 2. Ins. by Bihar Finance Act 11 of 2002. | Section 33(4): The Stamp Act is a fiscal enactment with the primary object of raising revenue for the State, Board of Revenue vs. Electronic Industries of India,AIR 1996 SC 616. Bond (4) Where any sea-insurance is made for or upon a voyage and also for time or to extend to or cover any time beyond thirty days after the ship shall have arrived at her destination and been there moored at anchor, the policy shall be charged with duty as a policy for or upon a voyage, and also with duty as a policy for time. Chapter II: STAMP-DUTIES A, Of the Liability of Instruments to Duly 3. Instruments chargeable with duty.—Subject to the provisions of this Act and the exemptions contained in Schedule |, the following instruments shall be chargeable with duty of the amount indicated in that Schedule as the proper duty therefor, respectively, that is to say:— (a) 'every instrument mentioned in that: previously executed by any person, IS execute first day of July, 1899; (b) every bill of exchange pay note drawn or made out 0 paid, or presented for acceptan or otherwise negotiated, in India; and (c) every instrument (other than a bill of exchange or promissory note) mentioned in that Schedule, which not having been previously executed by any person, is executed oul of India on or after that day, relates to any property situate, or to matter or thing done or to be done, in India and is received in India; "Provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided, in this Act, and notwithstanding anything contained in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this section or in Schedule |, the amount indicated in Schedule IA shall, subject to the exemptions contained in that Schedule, be the duty chargeable on the following instruments, mentioned in clauses (aa) and (bb) of this proviso, as the proper duty therefore respectively:— (aa) every instruments, mentioned in Schedule IA as chargeable with duty under that Schedule, which, not having been previously executed by any person, is executed in Bihar on or after the first day of January, 1938; and (bb) every instrument, mentioned in Schedule IA as chargeable with duly under that Schedule, which, not having been previously executed by any person, is executed out of Bihar on or after the first day of January, 1938 and relates to any property situated, or to any master or thing done or to be done, in Bihar and is received in Bihar:] Provided '[also] that no duty-shall be chargeable in respect of— (1) any instrument executed by, or on behalf of or in favour of, the Government in cases where, but for this exemption, the Government would be liable to pay the duty chargeable in respect of such instrument; (2) any instrument for the sale, transfer or other disposition, either absolutely or by way of mortgage or otherwise, of any ship or vessel, or any part interest, share or properly of or in any ship or vessel registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1897 (5) and 58Vicl, c (60) or under Act 19 of 1838 or the Indian Registration of Ships Act, 1841 (10 of 1841), as amended by subsequent Acts. 2{ "Provided further also that any entry in Schedule IA for the State of Bihar ————— at Schedule which, not having been din India on or after the able otherwise, than on demand or promissory f India on or after that day and accepted or ce or payment, or endorsed, transferred 7. Ins. by Bihar Act 6 of 1937. 2. Ins. by Bihar Finance Act 11 of 2002. | Section 33(2): The Stamp Act is a fiscal enactment with the primary object of raising revenue for the State, Board of Revenue vs. Electronic Industries of India,AIR 1996 SC 616. Bond (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any law, no instrument, counterpart or duplicate or cony, chargeable with duly under this section, shall be received in evidence as prope |y Stamped unless the duly, chargeable under this section has been paid thereon: Provided that a Court, before which any such instrument, counterpart duplicate or copy is produced, may, in its discretion, permit the duty, chargeable under this section, lo be paid thereon and may then receive it in evidence. | 7.Policies of sea-insurance.—*[ xxx}. 1. Ins. by Bihar Act 6 of 1937 (trom 1.1.1938), 2, Sub-sections (1), (2) and (3), repealed by Act 11 of 1963, S.92. Secs. 8-8A | Indian Stamp Act, 1899 [ Bt Chapter VIII: SUPPLEMENTAL PROVISIONS 73. Books, etc. to be open to inspection.— Every public officer having in his custody any registers, books, records, papers, documents or proceedings, the inspection whereof may tend to secure any duty, or to prove or lead to the discovery of any fraud or omission in relation to any duty, shall at all reasonable times permit any person authorised 'in writing by the Collector to inspect for such purpose the registers, books, papers, documents and proceedings, and to take such notes and extracts as they may deem necessary, without fee or charge. 74. Power to make rules relating to sale of stamps.—The State Government may make rules for regulating— (a) the supply and sale of stamps and stamped papers, (b) the persons by whom alone such sale is to be conducted, and (c) the duties and remuneration of such persons: Provided that such rules shall not restrict the sale of ten naye paise or five naye paise adhesive stamps. {S.O. 1367 dated the 11th October, 1982— In exercise of the powers conferred by clause (a) of sub-section (1) of Section 9 and Section 74 of the Indian Stamp Act, 1899 (Act no. 2 of 1899). the Governor of Bihar is ploased to make rules that the duties of Stamp vendors and duties of Katibs (Deed writers) must not be performed by the same individual, 2. In view of the cleanliness of the Administration and for checking forgery and defaications it is highly desirable that the duties of a stamp vendor and that of deed writer should not be performed by the same person or individual, 3. This notification will come in force at once. [There is another notification also | Section 33: [Gift Deed 33. [Gift Deed (a) in case of transfer from male to female 5.7%, (b) in case of transfer from female to male 6.3%, c) in any other c %." Exemption: (c) y other case 6% School, College, Cremation or Burial ground, Orphange, Public Road, Panchayat Bhawan, Public Library, Community Hall, Institution for Women and Children, or physically ormentally handicapped persons and Charitable Dispensaries and hostels, Chapter II: STAMP-DUTIES A, Of the Liability of Instruments to Duly 3. Instruments chargeable with duty.—Subject to the provisions of this Act and the exemptions contained in Schedule |, the following instruments shall be chargeable with duty of the amount indicated in that Schedule as the proper duty therefor, respectively, that is to say:— (a) 'every instrument mentioned in that: previously executed by any person, IS execute first day of July, 1899; (b) every bill of exchange pay note drawn or made out 0 paid, or presented for acceptan or otherwise negotiated, in India; and (c) every instrument (other than a bill of exchange or promissory note) mentioned in that Schedule, which not having been previously executed by any person, is executed oul of India on or after that day, relates to any property situate, or to matter or thing done or to be done, in India and is received in India; "Provided that, except as otherwise expressly provided, in this Act, and notwithstanding anything contained in clauses (a), (b) or (c) of this section or in Schedule |, the amount indicated in Schedule IA shall, subject to the exemptions contained in that Schedule, be the duty chargeable on the following instruments, mentioned in clauses (aa) and (bb) of this proviso, as the proper duty therefore respectively:— (aa) every instruments, mentioned in Schedule IA as chargeable with duty under that Schedule, which, not having been previously executed by any person, is executed in Bihar on or after the first day of January, 1938; and (bb) every instrument, mentioned in Schedule IA as chargeable with duly under that Schedule, which, not having been previously executed by any person, is executed out of Bihar on or after the first day of January, 1938 and relates to any property situated, or to any master or thing done or to be done, in Bihar and is received in Bihar:] Provided '[also] that no duty-shall be chargeable in respect of— (1) any instrument executed by, or on behalf of or in favour of, the Government in cases where, but for this exemption, the Government would be liable to pay the duty chargeable in respect of such instrument; (2) any instrument for the sale, transfer or other disposition, either absolutely or by way of mortgage or otherwise, of any ship or vessel, or any part interest, share or properly of or in any ship or vessel registered under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1897 (5) and 58Vicl, c (60) or under Act 19 of 1838 or the Indian Registration of Ships Act, 1841 (10 of 1841), as amended by subsequent Acts. 2{ "Provided further also that any entry in Schedule IA for the State of Bihar ————— at Schedule which, not having been din India on or after the able otherwise, than on demand or promissory f India on or after that day and accepted or ce or payment, or endorsed, transferred 7. Ins. by Bihar Act 6 of 1937. 2. Ins. by Bihar Finance Act 11 of 2002. | Section 33: The Stamp Act is a fiscal enactment with the primary object of raising revenue for the State, Board of Revenue vs. Electronic Industries of India,AIR 1996 SC 616. Bond 33. The Stamp Act is a fiscal enactment with the primary object of raising revenue for the State, Board of Revenue vs. Electronic Industries of India,AIR 1996 SC 616. Bond.—An "Instrument" creating fresh obligation to pay money to the State which becomes void upon payment being made, is a "Bond" under the Indian Stamp Act, and is liable to be assessed to stamp duty, Stafe of Kerala vs. Mcdowell and Co. Ltd. AIR 1995 SC 1445. Section 27 Provides that the consideration amount, if any, and all other facts and circumstances affecting the chargeability of Stamp Duty on any "instrument" and the amount of duty chargeable, shall be fully and truly setforth therein. Board of Revenue vs. Electronic Industries of India, AIR 1996 SC 616. —Section 5(2)—Definition is not exhaustive—document containing promise to pay after a certain period on demand—it is 'bond' chargeable under Article 15 Mosst. Radha Devi vs. Dhanik Lall Issar, 1970 PLJR 673. 6. Instruments coming within several descriptions in Schedule 1.— Subject to the provisions of the last preceding, section, an instrument so framed as to come within two or more of the descriptions in Schedule 1 shall, where the duties chargeable thereunder are different, be chargeable only with the highest of such duties: Provided that nothing in this Act contained shall render chargeable with duty exceeding one rupee a counterpart or duplicate of any instrument chargeable with duty and in respect of which the proper duty has been paid. '[6-A. Payment of Bihar stamp duty on copies, counterparts or duplicates when that duty has not been paid on the principal or original instrument.—(1) Motwithstanding anything contained in Section 4 or 6 or any other law, unless it is proved that the duty, chargeable under the Bihar Stamp (Amendment) Act, 1937, has been paid— (a) on the principal or original instruments, as the case may be, or (b) in accordance with the provisions of this section, the duty chargeable on an instrument of sale, mortgage or settlement other than a principal instrument, or on a counterpart, duplicate or copy of any instrument, shall, if the principal oy original instrument would, when received in Bihar, have been chargeable, under the Pihar Stamp (Amendment) Act, 1937, with a higher rate of duty, be the duty with which the principal or original instrument would have been chargeable under section 19A. Chapter IV: INSTRUMENTS NOT DULY STAMPED 33. Examination and impounding of instruments.—(1) Every person having, by law or consent of parties, authority to receive evidence, and every person in charge of public office, except an officer of police, before whom any instrument, chargeable, in his opinion, with duly is produced or comes in the performance of his functions, shall if it appears to him that such instrument is not duly stamped, impound the same. (2) For that purpose every such person shall examine every instrument so chargeable and so produced or coming before him, in order to ascertain whether itis stamped with a stamp of the value and descriptidn required by the law in force in India, when such instruments was executed or first executed: Provided that — (a) nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require any Magistrate or Judge of a Criminal Court to examine or impound, if he does not think fit so to do, any instrument coming before him in the course of any proceeding other than a proceeding under Chapter XII or Chapter XXXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); (b) in the case of a Judge of a High Court, the duty of the examining and impounding any instrument under this section may be delegated to such officer as the Court appoints in this behalf. (3) For the purposes of this section, in cases of doubt— (a) the State Government may determine what offices shall be deemed to be public offices; and (b) the State Government may determine who shall be deemed to be persons in charge of public offices. Comments and Case-law [An arbitration award is required to be made on stamped paper by Article 12. This defect in the arbitration award is curable under section 33 and it cannot be said that section 35 of the Stamp Act imposes a permanent bar on the powers of the court to make such an arbitration award a rule of the court, even if the defect 1. Ins.by Bihar Act 6 of 1937 (from 14,1938) 2. See now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) | Section 33: Examination and impounding of instruments CHAPTER IV INSTRUMENTS NOT DULY STAMPED 33. Examination and impounding of instruments.—(1) Every person having, by law or consent of parties, authority to receive evidence, and every person in charge of public office, except an officer of police, before whom any instrument, chargeable, in his opinion, with duly is produced or comes in the performance of his functions, shall if it appears to him that such instrument is not duly stamped, impound the same. Chapter IV: INSTRUMENTS NOT DULY STAMPED 33. Examination and impounding of instruments.—(1) Every person having, by law or consent of parties, authority to receive evidence, and every person in charge of public office, except an officer of police, before whom any instrument, chargeable, in his opinion, with duly is produced or comes in the performance of his functions, shall if it appears to him that such instrument is not duly stamped, impound the same. (2) For that purpose every such person shall examine every instrument so chargeable and so produced or coming before him, in order to ascertain whether itis stamped with a stamp of the value and descriptidn required by the law in force in India, when such instruments was executed or first executed: Provided that — (a) nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require any Magistrate or Judge of a Criminal Court to examine or impound, if he does not think fit so to do, any instrument coming before him in the course of any proceeding other than a proceeding under Chapter XII or Chapter XXXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); (b) in the case of a Judge of a High Court, the duty of the examining and impounding any instrument under this section may be delegated to such officer as the Court appoints in this behalf. (3) For the purposes of this section, in cases of doubt— (a) the State Government may determine what offices shall be deemed to be public offices; and (b) the State Government may determine who shall be deemed to be persons in charge of public offices. Comments and Case-law [An arbitration award is required to be made on stamped paper by Article 12. This defect in the arbitration award is curable under section 33 and it cannot be said that section 35 of the Stamp Act imposes a permanent bar on the powers of the court to make such an arbitration award a rule of the court, even if the defect 1. Ins.by Bihar Act 6 of 1937 (from 14,1938) 2. See now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) | Section 33(3): Examination and impounding of instruments [ Secs. 34-35 the stamp is cured by the procedure prescribed by the Stamp Act. M/s Pradip Trading Co. vs. State of Bihar. 1974 PLJR 225. ; The rule of limitation does not come into effect if they delay it by an order of the court and if the delay has been duly explained. Bindeshwar Dayal vs. Maheshwar Dayal, AIR 1990 SC 485. Once the case is over the decree is signed and sealed or when a documents is ordered to be returned it can no longer be considered to be part of the judicial orders & cannot therefore properly came before the court again in the performance of its function and the court is not competent to impound the same. Varghese vs, State of Kerela, AIR 1982 Ker. 248. The Stamp Act contains a comprehensive scheme about the purchase, collection and realisation of stamp duty chargeable under the provisions of the Indian Stamp Act. It is a self-contained Code. Board of Revnue vs. Electronic Industries of India, AIR 1996 SC 616. Section 33 read with Section 9-A inserted by (Bihar Amdt.) Ordinance, 1986/ (Bihar Amdt.) Act, 1988—sale deeds filed for registration during the currency of 1986 Ordinance—demand for additional sum raised u/s 9A—1986 Ordinance lapsed in the meanwhile and not renewed—proceeding for impounding documents initiated— in the meanwhile 1988 Act brought on the statute book but no enforced—1988 Act enforced in 1990 without retrospective effect or saving the actions taken under 1986 Ordinance—impending proceedings could not have continued after the lapse of 1986 Ordinance—authorities directed to register and then return documents. Life Insurance Corporation Class | Officers' Sahkari Grin Nirman Samiti Ltd. vs. State of Bihar, 1992 (2) PLUR 403. Even though there is no prohibition u/s 49 of Registration Act to receive an unregistered document in evidence for collateral purpose. But the document so tendered should be duly stamped or should comply with requirements of Section 35. Avinash Kumar Chauhan vs. Vijay Krishna Mishra, 2009(1) Supreme 58.] Chapter IV: INSTRUMENTS NOT DULY STAMPED 33. Examination and impounding of instruments.—(1) Every person having, by law or consent of parties, authority to receive evidence, and every person in charge of public office, except an officer of police, before whom any instrument, chargeable, in his opinion, with duly is produced or comes in the performance of his functions, shall if it appears to him that such instrument is not duly stamped, impound the same. (2) For that purpose every such person shall examine every instrument so chargeable and so produced or coming before him, in order to ascertain whether itis stamped with a stamp of the value and descriptidn required by the law in force in India, when such instruments was executed or first executed: Provided that — (a) nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require any Magistrate or Judge of a Criminal Court to examine or impound, if he does not think fit so to do, any instrument coming before him in the course of any proceeding other than a proceeding under Chapter XII or Chapter XXXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); (b) in the case of a Judge of a High Court, the duty of the examining and impounding any instrument under this section may be delegated to such officer as the Court appoints in this behalf. (3) For the purposes of this section, in cases of doubt— (a) the State Government may determine what offices shall be deemed to be public offices; and (b) the State Government may determine who shall be deemed to be persons in charge of public offices. Comments and Case-law [An arbitration award is required to be made on stamped paper by Article 12. This defect in the arbitration award is curable under section 33 and it cannot be said that section 35 of the Stamp Act imposes a permanent bar on the powers of the court to make such an arbitration award a rule of the court, even if the defect 1. Ins.by Bihar Act 6 of 1937 (from 14,1938) 2. See now the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974) | Section 33(2): Examination and impounding of instruments (2) For that purpose every such person shall examine every instrument so chargeable and so produced or coming before him, in order to ascertain whether itis stamped with a stamp of the value and descriptidn required by the law in force in India, when such instruments was executed or first executed: Provided that — (a) nothing herein contained shall be deemed to require any Magistrate or Judge of a Criminal Court to examine or impound, if he does not think fit so to do, any instrument coming before him in the course of any proceeding other than a proceeding under Chapter XII or Chapter XXXVI of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (V of 1898); (b) in the case of a Judge of a High Court, the duty of the examining and impounding any instrument under this section may be delegated to such officer as the Court appoints in this behalf.

Source: India Code