Payment of duty in respect of certain instruments

(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in sections 4 or 6 or in any other enactment, unless it is proved that the duty chargeable under this Act has been paid-(a) on the principal or original instrument, as the case may be, or (b) in accordance with the provisions of this section, the duty chargeable on an instrument of sale, mortgage or settlement, other than a principal instrument or on a counterpart, duplicate or copy of any instrument, shall, if the principal or original instrument would, when received in the State, have been chargeable under this Act with a higher rate of duty, be the duty with which the principal or original instrument would have been chargeable under section 19. (2) Notwithstanding anything contained in any enactment for the time being in force, no instrument, counterpart, duplicate or copy chargeable with duty under this section shall be received in evidence unless the duty chargeable under this section has been paid thereon: Provided that any Court before which any such instrument, duplicate or copy is produced may permit the duty chargeable under this section to be paid thereon and may then receive it in evidence.