Chennai: The district consumer disputes redressal forum, Chennai (north), has observed that services rendered by post offices come under the purview of the Consumer Protection Act.
On a petition from L. Devadoss of Tondiarpet, the bench, comprising president R. Mohandoss and member T. Kalaiyarasi, observed that Parliament, which had enacted the Act, had not intended to exempt government and post offices from its provisions.
Devadoss submitted that he booked a money order for Rs 200 for his daughter on May 16, 2012 at Tondiarpet west post office.
The postal staff failed to pay the amount to his daughter at St Thomas Mount. Hence, he lodged a complaint with the forum on August 30, 2012, seeking compensation of Rs 95,000.
Counsel for the petitioner replied that due to an Internet problem, the MO was sent through ordinary post.
He also contended that the post offices’ guide exempted Indian post office by law from all responsibility in a case of loss, mis-delivery, delay or damage to any postal article in the course of transmission.
Rejecting the contention, the forum directed the sub post master, Tondiarpet west post office, and the superintendent of post offices, Chennai city north division, to pay compensation of Rs 7,000 jointly and refund Rs 200 to the petitioner.
