What Is Franking Of Documents ?

Hi,
Would like to know what is franking ? why documents need to be franking? Only Banks can do franking or other firm are given authority ?
Thanks & Regards
Mayura Sawant

Dear Mayura,

Franking involves stamping. Oxford meaning of Franking is stamp a mark to indicate that amount has been paid.

I am trying to understand from your query , If I am not wrong you want to know the difference between Franking and Printed Stamp Papers. If it is true, NJS ( Non Judicial Stamp ) Paper can be purchased from the Stamp Vendor and later on you can type on it. Because of Telgi effect Govt brought some changes. You first prepare a document on paper and before signing parties on it, take it to nominated Branch of a Bank pay the stamp duty there and then the bank will put stamp on your document indicating the value of the stamp duty. That is called franking.

FRANKING : This is one of the several methods of indicating the payment of stamp duty. Franking machines are installed in some Sub-Registrar office in the State. These machines frank upto a denomination of 999 rupees. An application indicating the amount of duty to be frank is made to the proper officer authorize under the rules along with the unexecuted typed or printed documents. The necessary amount is paid in cash to the proper officer and the required denomination is franked on the document and return to the applicant.

This is known as franking of documents

Hello Mayura Sawant,
To add to what Giridhar SK mentioned, you must have seen postal envelopes with the stamp denominations NOT in actual stamps but sort-of stamped in RED or BLACK which includes the postal amount. No separate stamps are needed to be affixed for such envelopes. THIS METHOD IS CALLED FRANKING. This is usually adopted for Bulk postings--like magazines, letters from companies to shareholders, etc.
Franking is done by any authorized Government body. Sometimes private companies are also allowed to do it--subject to strict control by the respective Govt Dept--since they have to pay the equivalent cash for the total amount franked [the Franking machine has a counter to show how much worth of money has been franked].
Hope this clarifies your query.
Rgds,
TS.