No. 39-32/2019-D
Government of India
Ministry of Communications
Department of Posts
Mail Business (Operations
& Development) Division
Dak Bhawan, New
Delhi-110001
Date: 13 April, 2021
Office Memorandum
Subject: Time limit for treating a Speed Post article as ‘lost’ in absence of final
delivery status for the purpose of payment of compensation- regarding.
Reference is invited to BD Directorate OM number
57-07/2016-BD&MD (pt.1)
dated
20.12.2018
vide which the maximum period within which a Speed Post article could be
treated as ‘lost’ was
fixed as 150 days provided that the complaint was lodged within the
period prescribed for lodging the complaint i.e. within 60 days of booking the article. The period
of 150 days for treating a Speed Post article as lost was fixed taking into
account the time taken for completion
of e-search bill inquiry.
2. The matter has been re-examined. As the process
of handling and transmission of Speed Post articles have been streamlined in
the recent past and more visibility has come in the transmission and delivery
of Speed Post articles due to technological upgradation and regular monitoring
under MNOP; it has therefore been decided that the maximum period after which a
Speed Post article can be treated as ‘lost’ in the absence of final delivery
status for the purpose of payment of compensation, will be 60 days from the date of booking or 30 days from the date of
receipt of complaint, whichever
is later, provided that the complaint is lodged within the period
prescribed in this regard. The compensation to the sender of the Speed Post
article so declared as ‘lost’ will
be paid thereafter within a period of 10 days.
3. The action to declare the Speed Post article as
‘lost’ shall be initiated on receipt of complaint with the proof of booking.
The sender only can seek compensation prescribed under the rules (Rule 66-B of the Indian Post
Office Rules, 1933 as amended on 18-11-2013) on submission of a valid
proof of booking. Compensation for loss of the Speed Post article will continue
to be paid in accordance with the instructions issued by the Department from
time to time.
4. The process of investigation to establish the loss must be carried out by the
booking office as per the extant provisions containing in Postal Manual Volume V
and instructions issued by the Department from time to time. However, the
process of investigation and inquiry to ascertain the cause of loss of the
Speed Post article, fixing responsibility and recovery thereof is an internal
exercise of the Department and need not be linked to the payment of
compensation.
5. In case of insured Speed Post article, the time limit as prescribed in para-2 above will
also be applicable and the process of investigation as per the rules and
instructions issued by the Department from time to time are to be followed.
6. Due diligence has to be taken within the time
line mentioned at para- 2 above to find out the delivery status of the Speed
Post article. Due diligence, inter alia includes issue of e- search bill, cross
checking with the delivery office, returned to sender office and payment office
as the case may be. Delivery office shall ensure cross checking of delivery in
the online system as well as manual records and update the status accordingly.
7. The provisions prescribed for registered articles in clause 81
(2) of the Post Office Manual Volume-VIII regarding recovery of whole or
part of the contents will also be applicable in case of Speed Post articles.
8. An undertaking shall be obtained from the
complainant/sender by the respective
payment office that the complainant/sender has not received any payment
/compensation for the Speed Post article against which claim has been made and
that in case of multiple payment comes to notice later, the excess amount shall
be refunded by complainant/sender to the payment office or the same will be
adjusted against any payments due in favour of the complainant/sender.
9. These instructions will be applicable to the
Speed Post articles booked on and after 01.04.2021.
This issues with the approval of the Director
General (Postal Services).
(Ajay
kumar roy)
Deputy
Director General (Mail Operation)
