Indian Stamp Act, 1899
12. Cancellation of adhesive stamps
(1) (a) Whoever affixes any adhesive stamp to any instrument
chargeable with duty which has been executed by any person shall, when affixing
such stamp, cancel the same so that it cannot be used again; and
(b) Whoever executes any instrument on any
paper bearing an adhesive stamp shall, at the time of execution, unless such
stamp has been already cancelled in manner aforesaid, cancel the same so that
it cannot be used again.
(2) Any instrument bearing an adhesive stamp which has not been
cancelled so that it cannot be used again, shall, so far as such stamp is
concerned, be deemed to be unstamped.
(3) The person required by sub-section (1) to cancel an adhesive
stamp may cancel it by writing on or across the stamp his name or initials or
the name or initials of his firm with the true date of his so writing, or in
any other effectual manner.