The Indian Stamp Act, 1899

Section 72

In force · As amended up to 2026-08

Chapter VII: CRIMINAL OFFENCES AND PROCEDURE 62. Penalty for executing, etc, instrument not duly stamped,—(1) Any person—(a) drawing, making, issuing, endorsing or transferring, or signing otherwise than as a witness, or presenting for acceptance or payment, or accepting, paying or receiving payment of or in any manner negotiating any bill of exchange, payable otherwise than on demand or promissory note without the same being duly stamped; or (b) executing or signing otherwise than as a witness any other instrument chargeable with duty without the same being duly stamped; or (c) voting or attempting to vote under any proxy not duly stamped: shall for every such offence be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees: Provided that, when any penalty has been paid in respect of any instrument under section 35, section 40 or section 61, the amount of such penalty shall be allowed in reduction of the fine (if any) subsequently imposed under this section in respect of the same instrument upon the person who paid such penalty. (2) If a share-warrant is issued without being duly stamped, the company issuing the same, and also every person who, at the time when it is issued is the Managing director or secretary or other principal officer of the company, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees. 63. Penalty for failure to cancel adhesive stamp.—Any person required by Section 12 to cancel an adhesive stamp and failing to cancel such stamp in manner Presciived by that section, shall be punishable with fine which may extend to one hundred rupees, 64. Penalty for omission to comply with provisions of section 27. —Any Person, who, with intent to defraud the Government— | Section 72: Place of trial—Every such offence committed in respect of any instrument 72. Place of trial—Every such offence committed in respect of any instrument may be tried in any district or presidency-town in which such instrument is found as well as in any district or presidency town in which such offence might be tried under the Code of Criminal Procedure for the time being in force.

Source: India Code