law: Indian Stamp Act, 1899 
  3. Instruments chargeable with duty 
  Subject to the provisions of this Act and the exemptions
  
  contained in Schedule I, the following instruments shall be chargeable with
  
  duty of the amount indicated in that Schedule as the proper duty therefor,
  
  respectively, that is to say- 
  (a) every instrument mentioned in that Schedule which, not
  
  having been previously executed by any person, is executed in 3[India]
  
  on or after the first day of July, 1899;
  (b) every bill of exchange 19[payable otherwise than
  
  on demand] 20[* * *] or promissory note drawn or made out of 3[India]
  
  on or after that day and accepted or paid, or presented for acceptance or
  
  payment, or endorsed, transferred or otherwise negotiated, in 3[India];
  
  and
  (c) every instrument (other than a bill of exchange 20[*
  
  * *] or promissory note) mentioned in that Schedule, which, not having been
  
  previously executed by any person, is executed out of 3[India] on or
  
  after that day relates to any property situate, or to any matter or thing done
  
  or to be done, in 3[India] and is received in 3[India]:
  PROVIDED  that no duty shall be chargeable in respect
  
  of- 
  (1) any instrument executed by, or on behalf of, or in favor of,
  
  the government in cases where, but for this exemption, the government would be
  
  liable to pay the duty chargeable in respect of such instrument;
  (2) any instrument for the sale, transfer or other disposition,
  
  either absolutely or by way of mortgage or otherwise, of any ship or vessel, or
  
  any part, interest, share or property of or in any ship or vessel registered
  
  under the Merchant Shipping Act, 1894, or under Act 19 of 1938, or the Indian
  
  Registration of Ships Act, 1841, as amended by subsequent Acts.