Digital Stamp System Failure Disrupts Court Operations

Court proceedings across parts of Punjab faced major disruption after the newly introduced digital stamp paper system failed to function properly, preventing lawyers and citizens from obtaining required legal documents. The issue was reported across the Rawalpindi division, where courts struggled to operate due to the unavailability of stamp papers.

The crisis began after authorities replaced the previous e-stamp paper system with a digital white-paper format, abruptly shutting down the earlier platform before the new system became fully operational.

Court Work Comes to a Halt

The malfunction left lawyers unable to file essential legal documents, including:

• New civil and criminal cases
• High Court petitions
• Appeals and bail applications
• Replies in ongoing cases

Without officially issued stamp papers, these legal filings could not be processed, effectively paralysing court activity for two days.

Citizens Also Affected

The disruption extended beyond courtrooms, affecting everyday administrative processes that require stamp papers.

Residents attempting to obtain stamp papers for purposes such as utility connections, domicile certificates, job applications, and other legal documentation were forced to return empty-handed. Long queues formed outside stamp vendors’ offices as the system remained inaccessible throughout the working day.

Transition to New Digital System

Authorities replaced the old e-stamp mechanism, introduced only two years ago, with a new digital white-paper stamp system. The change also removed the Bank of Punjab’s role in issuing stamp papers, transferring the responsibility back to licensed stamp vendors who now generate documents digitally.

The new system allows stamp papers to be downloaded and printed on regular paper, replacing the traditional yellow stamp paper historically used for property registrations, affidavits, and power-of-attorney documents.

Concerns Raised by Lawyers

Legal professionals criticised the sudden transition, arguing that the previous system should not have been shut down until the replacement platform was fully functional.

Representatives of the local bar association warned that repeated changes to the stamp system create uncertainty and risk delaying court cases and legal proceedings across the region.

What Happens Next

Officials said the digital platform had been scheduled to go live after technical configuration over the weekend, but system failures prevented it from functioning during the initial rollout. Authorities are expected to address the technical issues and restore normal operations soon.

Until the system becomes stable, however, legal and administrative processes dependent on stamp papers remain stalled, highlighting the challenges of transitioning critical public services to new digital platforms.