J&K govt suspends senior official for stamp duty evasion

Jammu and Kashmir government has suspended a senior revenue department official for passing orders on mutations through verbal gift deeds, which allegedly led to a loss of Rs 18.87 crore stamp duty to the state exchequer.
Divisional Commissioner Kashmir Shailendra Kumar yesterday placed Tehsildar (north city) Mohammad Bashir Rather under suspension pending an inquiry into the matter, an official spokesman said here.
Kumar also constituted a three-member inquiry committee to look into the involvement of Rather for passing orders on mutations on Hiba Zabani (verbal gift deed) in respect of 89 hectares of land, thereby resulting in loss of Rs 18.87 crore to the government exchequer on account of stamp duty, the spokesman said.

He said Commissioner of Survey and Land Records will head the inquiry panel while Additional Deputy Commissioner Srinagar and Deputy Commissioner, Stamps, Commercial Taxes Department, Kashmir will be the other members.
The terms of reference of the committee for conducting the enquiry shall be the material facts as are contained in the communication from the Deputy Commissioner, Srinagar, the spokesman said.
He said the enquiry shall be completed within one month.