POST MASTER PAPPIREDDIPATTI POST OFFICE Vs. N KAMATCHI

JUDGEMENT

(1.) There is no merit in this appeal. Once again we come across a case where the Postal Department has acted with utter indifference and negligence. The complainant sent a telegram at 11.42 hours on 25.3.1997 from Madurai Town Telegraph Office addressing it to his sister's husband residing at Pappireddipatti in Dharmapuri District informing him that his "mother had arrived". The addressee namely the sister's husband of the complainant was shocked to receive the telegram stating that 'mother had expired'. The telegram caused much mental agony and shock to his sister who on hearing the news became unconscious. They engaged a van and came rushing to Madurai. Thus, on account of the callous, indifference and deficiency in service of the opposite party the complainant's family were put to great mental shock and agony and, therefore, the complaint has been laid.

(2.) A reading of the version of the opposite party shows that they have no defence at all to this complaint. In their version, the opposite party boast of the fact that they have promptly delivered the telegram. No doubt, they have done the act promptly. But the message they conveyed was not the message sent by the complainant. Thus, there is utter negligence and indifference in the discharge of duties by the opposite parties. If a person alive is reported dead the relatives receiving such message would be definitely shocked. It would have caused lot of mental strain, agony and sorrow in the family which cannot be equated in terms of money. This case is an instance of monumental inefficiency. Persons who cannot understand the difference between 'arrived' or 'deceased' or 'died', are allowed to man the services and deal with such messages. The effect of such erroneous messages delivered cannot be penned down. It will have heart-rending effect. Sometimes, the shock of receiving such messages may even endanger the life of the person who receives such message. Without realizing the grave and serious nature of consequences that such wrong messages can bring serious consequences they have acted, which underlines the deliberate indifference and irreconcilable incompetence.

(3.) Therefore, we do not find any reason at all to take a different view from that of the Lower Forum.