Himachal stamp duty up for men down for women

Shimla :The Himachal Pradesh government on Thursday passed a bill amending a 114 year old stamp duty law which cuts down stamp duty for women but raising it in the case of men .

The state assembly passed the bill by voice vote in its winter assembly venue of Dharamsala .
State revenue minister Kaul Singh introduced the bill in the house Wednesday seeking to amend the Indian Stamp Himachal Pradesh (amendment) bill 2013 clause 23 of the Indian Stamp Act 1899.

He said the purpose of the new law was to empower women in the hill state and encourage them to register land in their names

Until now a stamp duty was being charged at 5 per cent .