SUPERINTENDENT OF POST OFFICES Vs. PRAMIL KUMAR PANDA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) This Revision Petition No. 355 of 2019 challenges the impugned order of Orissa State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, Cuttack ('the State Commission') dtd. 8/8/2018. Vide this order, the State Commission dismissed C.D.A.No. 977 of 2004 and affirmed the order of the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum, Nuapada ('the District Forum') dtd. 13/8/2004.

(2.) Brief facts of the case, as per the Complainant, are that he purchased Indira Vikas Patra (IVP) on different dates amounting to Rs.6,50,000.00 The IVPs were lost an 15/6/2003 and Station Diary entry dtd. 15/6/2003 was made at Jayapatna Police Station regarding loss of the VPs. The IVPs could not be traced. Complainant approached the Postal authorities for payment of maturity value of the IVPs. Since no action was taken for payment, complaint was filed before the District Forum by the Complainant seeking the OPs for payment of the maturity value of the lost IVPs.

(3.) In reply, the OPs resisted the complaint and asserted that as per Rule 7(2) of Indira Vikas Patra Rules, 1986 if a certificate lost, stolen, mutilated, defaced or destroyed will not be replaced by any Post Office. The OPs denied their liability to pay for the lost VIPs.