TELECOM Vs. S SRINIVASAN

JUDGEMENT

(1.) There is no merit in this appeal. A telegram booked on 30.5.1998 at 11.41 a. m. at Tiruvannamalai Post Office addressed to Panjapalli Village, Hosur Taluk, a neibhouring district reached the addressee only on 2.6.1998. The telegram was sent by the complainant to his mother-in-law requesting her to start immediately since his wife namely the daughter of the addressee was admitted in C. M. C. Hospital and was in need of blood to undergo an urgent operation and the mother was having the same group of blood. Because of the delay in the sending of the telegram by the postal authorities, the complainant was put to considerable hardship. He had to arrange for blood from elsewhere.

(2.) We do not find any reasonable excuses or cause stated by the opposite parties for the enormous delay. Even assuming that there was some practical difficulty or there was any non-availability of telegraph line, they ought to have taken every effort to see that the telegram is at least delivered on the next day. But here it has been delivered only on 3 days after i. e. on 2.6.1998, then the purpose of sending telegram itself stands defeated. This only shows that the Department has been thoroughly negligent and deficient in discharge of their duties. Therefore, we do not find any reason to hold that the conclusion arrived at by the lower Forum is unjustifiable. On the other hand, the facts of this case clearly demonstrate that the verdict passed by the lower Forum is well based upon the facts and circumstances of the case.

(3.) Consequently, as there is no merit in this appeal, this appeal is dismissed with cost of Rs.100/- confirming the order passed by the lower Forum. Appeal dismissed.