Chennai: The District Consumer Dispute Redressal Forum, Chennai (South) has directed postmaster general to pay a compensation of Rs 8,000 to a person for causing inordinate delay in delivering money order of Rs 3,000 five years ago.
The petitioner M.S. Venkata Narayanan of Nanganallur has submitted that on April 8, 2012, he sent money order of Rs 3,000 to his relative Ravi Chandran in Secunderabad through Nanganallore post office. This was not delivered to him on time. Narayanan lodged complaint withNanganallurpost office on May 29, 2012.
As directed by senior superintendent of post offices, Chennai city south division, he sent the duplicate money order on July 8, 2012. Senior superintendent informed him that it was delivered on July 17, 2012.
The act of the post office amounted to gross deficiency in service. He filed the petition seeking direction to the postmaster general, Anna Salai and senior superintendent of post offices, city south division, Chennai, to pay him a compensation of Rs 1 lakh.
In their reply, postmaster general and senior superintendent of post offices, Chennai city south division, submitted that as per section 6 of the Indian Post Office Act 1898 the case before this forum was not sustainable. As the money order was not been received at Bowenpally post office, the duplicate money order was delivered at Secunderabad on July 17, 2012.
Hence, the post office has not committed deficiency in service and therefore it sought dismissal of the petition. The bench comprising president M.Mony, members K.Amala and Dr T.Paul Rajasekaran said the petitioner proved the case.
The money order was delivered after inordinate delay of 99 days. The postmaster general and senior superintendent of post offices, jointly and severally liable to pay as compensation of 8,000 to the petitioner.
