Both houses of the Maharashtra state Legislature passed the Maharashtra Stamp (Amendment) Bill 2026 on Monday. The bill, introduced by Revenue Minister Chandrashekhar Bawankule, aims to expedite the resolution of pending stamp duty cases and streamline administrative processes. The amendment decentralizes administrative powers by significantly increasing the financial authority of local-level officers. This change eliminates the need for citizens to approach the Inspector General of Registration (IGR) for stamp duty-related decisions.
By amending Section 52-A of the current Act, the bill empowers local officials to handle stamp duty matters, reducing the burden on the IGR office and enabling quicker decision-making at the local level. Under the revised provisions, the Collector (Stamps) can now decide on stamp duty issues up to Rs 20 lakh, while the Deputy Inspector General of Inspection (excluding Mumbai) can handle matters of up to Rs 50 lakh. Additionally, the additional controller of stamps (Mumbai) and the chief controlling revenue authority can address cases up to Rs 1 crore each.
Minister Bawankule highlighted that the amendment addresses the backlog of cases at the State Inspector General of Registration, which previously resulted from low financial limits for local officials. This change is expected to enhance transparency and efficiency by allowing high-value cases to be resolved at the Collector and Deputy Inspector General levels. The Legislative Council had previously approved the bill before it was passed by the Legislative Assembly, marking a significant step towards expediting stamp duty processes.
The Maharashtra Legislature also discussed the ‘Maharashtra Land Revenue Code Amendment Bill 2026’ alongside the Stamp Amendment Bill. Minister Bawankule emphasized that this additional reform is poised to enhance the functioning of the Revenue Department and facilitate the swift resolution of technical issues in property transactions. The legislative approval of these bills signifies a crucial move towards improving administrative efficiency and citizen convenience in stamp duty and land revenue matters.
