Information: Post Man : How to Discipline ?

[shan]

How do I frame a question setting the accountability of the post man in the neighbourhood. His performance , is undisciplined & compromised. Any suggestions please ?

[kushal]

Why don't you try complaining it to Superintendent of Posts first or lodge an online complaint directly at the website Welcome to the Indiapost Web Site

[colnrkurup]

Unlike various other departments, the Postal Departmentis found to be very prompt on complaints. They do have a well organised Customer Care system . All one has to do is address a complaint with all relevent details to the Post Master of the concerned Post Office. Normally one will get a reply within 2 weeks whereas in the case of RTI it might take more time. In this case, I suggest resorting to RTI only when the normal system fail.

[shan]

Ok.. I have complained to all concerned. Dr. Pathak , I think you could guide me properly. This is a set up in connivance of the post man & some section of the housing society that I live in.

1) I do not receive the Acknowledgement card back.
2) A few days back a speed post article was delievered to the guard of the society , who actually signed the receipt on my behalf.

I have not given any authorisation , to him or anyone else in the society to accept any post articles on my behalf.

Now , this raises my suspicion that only articles / posts which are not of any interest to them in particular are delievered to me. A censor Board.

I have complained on the web-site & also to ssp bhopal. He reverted that action has been taken & that I handover the complaint to subpost master , which I did promptly.

But the ack. cards have not come. And the speedpost article was signed on my behalf.

Do you think, i should still wait. I feel the officers are quite co-operative , but the post-man intentions are not clear.

I look forward to kind suggestions from all....

[sandeepbaheti]

Next time such an incident occurs complain about the specific item for which you have not received the delivery/AD card. The Customer Care Centre will enquire the matter and make sure that the item is delivered to you.

Even presently you may file a complaint for important articles/ ad cards that have not been delivered to you. However you must file a separate complaint for each item and attach a photocopy of the receipt of postage.

[colnrkurup]

I had discussed with the Post Master on the issue of obtining proof of delivery of acknowledgement card. The requirement of postal department obtaining proof of delivery of acknowledgement card might have been prevelent when the system was introduced. But over the period this seems dispensed with. In the case of Speed post the system is still prevelent in paper as they collect Rs.9/- for this. But most of the post offices do not record the acknwledgment card in their transit invoices. In cases itis not recorded in the invoice, nothing could be done.However they accept complaint from asubscribers on non-delivery of acknowledgment card. In all such cases they float the complaint to the concerned channel. But it is confined only to the fact that the Registered/Speed post article was delivered to the addressee and date and time of delivery. Of cource it might take even more than a month.

In reply to the complaint they inform in writting after inquiry, the date and time of delivery of such article which in fact become a proof delivery of adknowledgment card. Nothing else.

This cituation necessitate taking the issue with the highest postal authorities to issue necessary directions to all post offices making them record the acknowledgment card in the invoicea as an obligatory procedure. Till then nothing more could be done

[kushal]

Speed Post can be delivered at the address place on the discretion of the postman (According to Post Office Act and subsequent instructions), however, registered article is only delivered to the addressee.

If you have put the acknowledgment card with Speed Post, on its return journey it is treated as the accountable article (just like any speed post article) and need to be delivered back. If that is not the case, it is not regular, whereas the acknowledgment card with Registered article is treated as an ordinary article and are not accountable.

If the department of Post gave it in writing that the article was delivered, it is sufficient in any court of law and stand true, and in effect it is better than acknowledgment card.

[shan]

Thank you Dr. Pathak for your great insight. So , one imp. message that we all learn here is that , if one is asking for inf. within the society & sorrounded by a group of people , who are not interested in passing on the inf., one must only send through speed Post with acknowledgement card.

My query , actually , was suppose a PIO has replied back to me & the letter has been accepted on my behalf by the guard of the society through the post man & not delievered to me. So in effect if it has come through the speed post , it has been delievered. I am totally unaware about the situation. I go back filing first appeal & then second appeal.....

I will take the issue with the Management Committee of the society. But Was wondering, how to take it up with the Post man.

[sandeepbaheti]

I am not sure if not getting back ad cards is because of postman's fault. Regarding the postman delivering letter to guard, if this is not a regular occurence you can simply warn the postman not to do this in the future and this should suffice.
However, if you feel that the postman is habitually engaging into misconduct you can file a complaint with the post office specifically naming the postman and specifying his acts of regular misconduct.
I don't understand why AD cards are not delivered back in your area. When I was in my hometown I used to send dozens of regd. letters every month for business purpose and barring one or two exceptions I always received back the AD card.
Post office is charging money for this service and it is their responsibility to ensure that AD cards are delivered back. How they document for it is their headache. Failing to deliver AD card is a negligence of service on their part and is covered under the Consumer Protection Act.
Next time any of you suffer any loss or problem due to non delivery of AD card just let me know and I will make sure these guys learn a lesson.

[colnrkurup]

As I had brought out, whatever be the contents of Post Office Act , acknowledgment cards are generally not treated as accountable documnts by many post offices. In the case of AD card of registered letters they charge Rs.3/- extra and naturally it is not invoiced in its return journey. In the case of Speed post the additional charge being Rs. 9/-some of the post offices account them in its return journey. In cases the AD card are not invoiced or accounted for in their return journey, the postman does not obtain its receipt when delivered on its return.

The consumer can only complain when he does not receive the ack card back to the post office of registration. In all cases of complaint the post office process the complaint and invariably reply in writting the outcome of the article and not about the AD card. So long as the post office attend to every complaint and reply date and time of delivery of the article nothing could be done. Of course it will take a month or more as a consumer can complain of non delivery only after a specifiedperiod.

The only solution is to raise this issue to highest postal authorities to ussue suitable instructions to all post office making it obligatory to document the AD card.

[sidmis]

If the department of Post gave it in writing that the article was delivered, it is sufficient in any court of law and stand true, and in effect it is better than acknowledgment card.

And cheaper too .

[rajub]

Originally Posted by sidmis

If the department of Post gave it in writing that the article was delivered, it is sufficient in any court of law and stand true, and in effect it is better than acknowledgment card.

Exactly ! There is absolutely no need to worry for AD card if you have letter from postal department that letter is delivered.

[colnrkurup]

That is not the solution. The system should function automatically. Getting such a letter from the Post office involve:
(a) Wait for nearly 3 weeks to ensure that the aticleis not delivered
(b) Making written complaint with photocopy of the receipt
(c) Wait for another 2 weeks
(d) Botheration of waiting for more than one month

But if it is made statutorily incumbant on the post office to account for each and every acknowledgement card the sytstem will be smooth and the post ofices will be more careful in dealing with AD Cards

[sandeepbaheti]

I repeat:

Next time any of you suffer any loss or problem due to non delivery of AD card just let me know and I will make sure these guys learn a lesson.

Just like RTI Act, Consumer Protection Act is another very powerful tool in the hands of the common man. One needs to learn how to use it.

[shan]

So , after amking all the necessary compalints & noises at the circle office & sub-post office , today the one of the three Ack. card arrived. Almost a month after the delievery stamp.

So , what do we have here. Whether accountable or not , they do have them with them, just a question of a casual attitiude , as most of us go under the impression that , the Registered with AD would have delievered.
The bone of contention , here is that since , we are paying Rs 3/ more for the services of Ack. card , why should it not be posted back. the services offered have to be backed up by the system.

[rajub]

Dear Shan,

It is our right to get back the AD card, that too in time. we pay for it.

But as far as proof of delivery is concerned it is sufficient to show the receipt of payment made while posting the letter. If it does not come back means it is delivered. It is established in all the legal procedures.

However, we can file a complaint in consumer forum for deficiency in service.

You will definitely win the case in consumer forum if you desire to file a complaint.

rajendra

[bindu]

speed post articles can be delivered to any responsible person available in the address unlike registered articles which will be delivered only to the addressee or his authorised agents.

[shan]

Binduji,

The issue here was primarily of Registered letter with AD. When we pay more for this service , why there is no accountability.

I agree , however on your point of distribution of speed post articles.

shan