Maharashtra Legislature Unanimously Approves Stamp Duty Amendment Bill to Streamline Revenue Administration
The Maharashtra legislature on Monday achieved unanimous consensus in passing the Maharashtra Stamp (Amendment) Bill, 2026, a significant legislative measure designed to accelerate the resolution of pending stamp duty cases and decentralize decision-making authority within the state's revenue administration framework.
Minister Introduces Reform to Enhance Local Decision-Making
Introduced by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, the Bill received approval from both Houses of the legislature. This reform substantially increases the financial authority granted to district and regional officers, ensuring that numerous cases no longer require referral to the state's top registration authority for final decisions.
Officials clarified that the amendment specifically modifies Section 52A of the Maharashtra Stamp Act, facilitating greater administrative decentralisation. This strategic move is anticipated to significantly reduce the workload at the Maharashtra Inspector General of Registration office while enabling faster, more efficient decisions at the local level.
Enhanced Financial Powers for Various Authorities
Under the revised administrative framework, the financial powers of several key authorities have been substantially increased:
- The district collector (stamps) will now possess the authority to decide cases involving amounts up to Rs20 lakh, marking an increase of Rs5 lakh over the previous limit.
- The deputy inspector general of registration operating outside Mumbai will have enhanced powers up to Rs50 lakh, elevated from the earlier limit of Rs30 lakh.
- For cases within Mumbai jurisdiction, the additional controller of stamps will exercise financial authority up to Rs1 crore, representing an increase of Rs20 lakh.
- Similarly, the chief controlling revenue authority's limit has been raised to Rs1 crore, further expanding decision-making capacity.
Addressing Pending Cases and Citizen Convenience
During the legislative discussion, Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule emphasized that many cases remained pending primarily because local officers lacked sufficient financial powers to resolve them independently. "At present, numerous cases remain pending with the inspector general of registration solely because financial limits at lower administrative levels are too restrictive," he stated.
"Citizens are frequently forced to travel to Mumbai, enduring significant inconvenience and delays. With this reform, district collectors and deputy inspector generals will now be empowered to decide higher-value cases at their respective levels, improving both transparency and efficiency in clearing the substantial backlog of pending matters."
Complementary Legislative Measures and Expected Benefits
In addition to the stamp duty reform, the government introduced the Maharashtra Land Revenue Code (Amendment) Bill, 2026, in the Assembly, indicating a comprehensive approach to revenue administration improvements.
Officials project that the stamp duty reform will accelerate administrative processes within the revenue department while helping to resolve technical hurdles commonly encountered during property registration and transfer transactions. This legislative action represents a proactive step toward modernizing Maharashtra's revenue infrastructure and enhancing service delivery for citizens across the state.
