Brief: According to a Supreme Court judgement dated 19/02/2008 in the case of Thiruvengada Pillai Vs Navaneethammal and Anr.,
CITATION: THIRUVENGADA PILLAI VS NAVANEETHAMMAL AND ANR.
Judgment:
According to a Supreme Court judgment dated 19/02/2008 in the
case of Thiruvengada Pillai Vs Navaneethammal and Anr, the stamp papers
do not have any expiry period. Relevant extract from SC Judgment is
reproduced herein below:
"The Indian Stamp Act, 1899 nowhere
prescribes any expiry date for use of a stamp paper. Section 54 merely
provides that a person possessing a stamp paper for which he has no
immediate use (which is not spoiled or rendered unfit or useless), can
seek refund of the value thereof by surrendering such stamp paper to the
Collector provided it was purchased within the period of six months
next preceding the date on which it was so surrendered.
The
stipulation of the period of six months prescribed in section 54 is only
for the purpose of seeking refund of the value of the unused stamp
paper, and not for use of the stamp paper. Section 54 does not require
the person who has purchased a stamp paper, to use it within six months.
Therefore, there is no impediment for a stamp paper purchased more than
six months prior to the proposed date of execution, being used for a
document.