Section 18. (a.) Instruments not duly stamped inadmissible in evidence

CHAPTER III. UNSTAMPED OR INSUFFICIENTLY STAMPED DOCUMENTS. 18. (a.) Instruments not duly stamped inadmissible in evidence. (b.) Except in criminal proceedings. 19. Foreign bill unstamped or with stamp uncancelled. n 50 SECTION. CHAPTER III. UNSTAMPED OR INSUFFICIENTLY STAMPED DOCUMENTS. 18. (a).—No instrument chargeable with stamp-duty shall be received in any court of justice, or by any person having by law or consent of parties authority to receive evidence, as creating, modifying, transferring or extinguishing, or purporting to create, modify, transfer or extinguish, any right or obligation, or as evidence in any civil proceeding, or shall be acted upon in any such court, or by any such person as aforesaid, or by any public officer, or shall be registered by any officer acting under any law for the registration of assurances or in any public office, or shall be authenticated by any public officer, unless such instrument bears a stamp of a value not less than the amount of the duty with which it is chargeable under the law in force in British India at the time of its execution. (b).—Every instrument chargeable with stamp-duty shall be admitted in evidence in any criminal proceeding (other than proceedings under chapter XXII of the Code of Criminal Procedure), although it may not have the stamp required by law impressed thereon or affixed thereto. 19. Subject a 53 306 ACT No. XVIII OF 1869.