Steel city is facing an acute shortage of lower denomination non-judicial stamp papers, making it difficult for people to obtain legal authorisation of documents, affidavits and other agreements.

Stamp papers of Rs 10, Rs 20, Rs 50 and Rs 100 of denominations are not available here for the last couple of months.

People have been left with no other option but to procure it from the black market or buy stamp paper of higher denomination like Rs 500 to meet legal emergencies.

Perturbed over the crisis, Singhbhum Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) on Wednesday wrote to principal secretary of the revenue and land reforms department K.K. Soan, requesting him to ensure availability of lower denomination non-judicial stamp papers with post offices, stamp vendors and common service centres.

Honorary general secretary of the trade outfit Vijay Anand Moonka said people, especially traders, were worst hit.

“We have been regularly getting complaints from traders as they are finding it difficult to draw up agreements, indemnity bonds and issue declarations due to the crisis of non-judicial stamp papers of lower denomination,” Moonka stated in the letter.

In the letter, he also stressed the need to simplify the process of getting non-judicial e-stamp papers.

Sources in Jamshedpur civil court said peole were forced to pay a steep price for non-judicial stamp papers of lower denomination from Seraikela court.

According to sources, stamp papers of Rs 10 and Rs 20 denomination are being sold at Rs 100 and Rs 200 in Seraikela.

Moonka said they were hopeful that the revenue and land reforms department would be able to sort out at the issue at the earliest.