Rajasthan imposes 10% cow cess on stamp duty

Property deals in Rajasthan will now cost more as the state government has imposed a 10-per cent cow cess on stamp duty, for raising funds for conservation of cows in the state.

The new cess will entail a cost for those making rent agreements, mortgage papers and lease agreement as they will now pay a surcharge of 10 per cent on stamp duty for cow protection.

The surcharge has been imposed on all non-judicial instruments for the conservation and propagation of cows in BJP-ruled Rajasthan.

Chief minister Vasundhara Raje had, in the state's budget for the current fiscal (2017-18), proposed to impose a surcharge on all such instruments that are non-judicial in nature, an order of which was released on 31 March.

"In exercise of the powers conferred of the Rajasthan Stamp Act, 1998 and in supersession of this department's notification, state government hereby order surcharge at the rate of 10 per cent on stamp duty payable on all instruments for the purposes of conservation and propagation of cow and its progeny," states the order.

Raje had proposed the surcharge for development of basic infrastructure facilities and protection and propagation of cows. However, judicial stamps, revenue stamps and insurance ticket have been excluded from this order.

Last month, the Punjab government had also given the nod for a cow cess in some cities. The cess in Punjab would be applicable on items like automobiles and utilities like electricity.