Sikkim Bank Issues Over 30,000 Tenant Verification Receipts Amid Exemption Controversy
First Published: 13th February, 2025 19:34 IST
The tenant verification drive was led by the Sikkim police to ensure proper documentation of tenants in the state.
The State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) has issued over 30,000 bank receipts for tenant verification fees since the drive began on 1 February. The total amount collected exceeds Rs 35 lakh, with fees ranging from Rs 50 to Rs 150 per person, depending on domicile status. The deposits were directed to Sikkim Police, which has been conducting the verification drive.
The tenant verification drive was led by the Sikkim police to ensure proper documentation of tenants in the state.
However, on 11 February, the government announced that local citizens with any of the following five documents would be exempt from the verification process:
Sikkim Subject Certificate
Certificate of Identification
Voter ID of a Sikkim constituency
Residential Certificate
Land documents in Sikkim
This has raised concerns about whether those who had already paid the fee but now qualify for exemption will receive a refund.
SBS Managing Director P.W. Bhutia stated that the State government must decide whether to refund the verification fees. However, he also noted that differentiating between locals who are now exempt and non-locals who are still required to pay would be a challenging task.
Bhutia said, “The decision to refund lies with the State government. The bank has already credited the fees to the government’s account, and we cannot reverse the receipts or debit the account. The Finance Department will decide on the matter soon.”
As discussions continue, affected citizens await clarification from the authorities regarding potential refunds.
Also Read: Sikkim Implements Mandatory Tenant Verification, DGP Clarifies Process Amid Public Confusion
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