THE JHARKHAND STORY DESK
New Delhi, May 2: In a significant ruling, the Supreme Court has held that stamp vendors qualify as public servants and can be prosecuted under the Prevention of Corruption Act (PC Act).
The verdict came from a bench comprising Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice R. Mahadevan while hearing an appeal against a Delhi High Court judgment.
SC Upholds Conviction Under PC Act
The case pertains to stamp vendor c, who was convicted by a trial court under Sections 7 and 13(1)(d) read with Section 13(2) of the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Delhi High Court had upheld the trial court’s decision, which Bhatia subsequently challenged in the Supreme Court.
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The appeal argued that the provisions of the PC Act apply only to government employees, and since stamp vendors are not officially designated as government servants, Bhatia’s conviction under the Act was not legally sustainable.
Bribe for Stamp Paper; SC Rejects Appeal, Defines Role
Bhatia had allegedly demanded a bribe of ₹2 for issuing a ₹10 stamp paper. Following a complaint, the Anti-Corruption Bureau investigated the matter and filed a chargesheet. The trial court found Bhatia guilty, and the Delhi High Court later confirmed the ruling.
After examining the relevant provisions of the Stamp Act, the Supreme Court clarified that stamp vendors perform a public function and are therefore public servants under the PC Act. The court concluded that prosecution under the anti-corruption law was justified in Bhatia’s case.
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“Stamp vendors across the country, by virtue of performing an important public duty and receiving remuneration from the Government for the discharge of such duty, are undoubtedly public servants within the ambit of Section 2(c)(i) of the PC Act,” held the bench.
This judgment sets a precedent for treating individuals performing public functions—like stamp vendors—as accountable under anti-corruption legislation.
