State bank of Sikkim collects Rs 35 lakhs from tenant verification drive, refund decision awaited

The State Bank of Sikkim (SBS) has received tenant verification fees from over 30,000 individuals since the launch of the drive on February 1, with the total amount collected to over Rs 35 lakhs. Each individual made a payment of Rs 50. 
 

The tenant verification drive was led by the Sikkim police to ensure proper documentation of tenants in the state.
 

Following a recent government notification, local citizens holding any of the five specific documents — Sikkim Subject Certificate, Certificate of Identification, Sikkim Voter ID, Residential Certificate, or land documents — are now exempt from the verification process. This has raised concerns about whether those who have already paid the fee will be refunded.
 

SBS Managing Director PW Bhutia clarified, “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.”
 

Bhutia also highlighted the difficulty in differentiating between locals who are now exempt and non-locals who are still required to pay the fee. He stated that the relevant department would need to verify and identify eligible individuals if refunds are to be issued.
 

The large influx of individuals paying the fee initially caused delays at SBS branches, disrupting regular banking operations. To streamline the process, SBS has now introduced an online payment system. Citizens can pay the tenant verification fee through the bank’s website, print their receipts, and submit them to the nearest police station.
 

The state government is expected to address the refund question soon, which has sparked curiosity among the public. Meanwhile, SBS continues to support the verification drive through its improved online system.