IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT PATNA CWJC No.7758 of 2009 AMBAR IMAM HASHMI . Versus THE STATE OF BIHAR & ORS . ----------- 2/ 04/01/2011 Heard learned counsel for the petitioner and learned counsel for the State. The relief sought is for a direction to the respondents for relaxation of the statutory period prescribed to apply for refund of unused non-judicial stamp paper prescribed in Section-50 of the Indian Stamp Act by Bihar Act 12/09. Alternatively, directions be issued to permit uses of the stamp paper after expiry of the time period prescribed therein. The petitioner is stated to have purchased non-judicial stamp paper of the value of Rs.23,600/- in the year 2005 for execution and registration of a sale deed. It is his case that for unavoidable reasons he was unable to do so. In the meantime, the aforesaid Amendment Act has been published on 2.4.2008 which precludes use of the stamp paper or its refund after one year. Learned counsel is unable to assist the Court on any provision for relaxation provided in the Statute, but only urges that the amended law before promulgation was not given wide publicity by appropriate notices - 2 - placed in the registration offices and other prominent places to make the petitioner aware of the issue. It is fairly acknowledged that the Legislation contains no relaxation clause. However, sympathy is sought to be invoked. If a Legislation has been promulgated and punished, ignorance of the law can be no excuse. If the Legislation does not provide any relaxation clause for the time period, sympathy cannot be invoked by the Writ Court in exercise of its extra ordinary powers to supplant the law. The writ application stands dismissed. KC ( Navin Sinha, J.)