SUDARSHAN KUMAR SEHGAL Vs. UNION OF INDIA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complainant along with his wife late Smt. Romesh Kumari opened two MIS accounts with the post office. His wife having died on 29-01-1999, intimation of the said death was given to the post office. The complainant also submitted a request for adding the names of his two sons namely Rajneesh Sehgal and Sunish Kumar Sehgal, in the aforesaid accounts, in place of the name of his wife. This, according to the complainant was done as per the advice given to him by the post office officials. The addition of the names of the sons of the complainant was duly allowed by the post office on 11-03-1999 i.e. just about 40 days after the death of the wife of the complainant. Interest for the period from 15-02-1999 to 15-03-1999 was also paid to them. In A/c No.58602 the entire interest was paid along with prescribed bonus till the maturity of the account. In A/c No.58045 interest was paid only till December 2001 and no payment of interest was made with effect from January 2002. Vide letter dated 22-02-2002 the complainant was informed that the Post Master of the Head Post Office, Sonepat had directed the Sub Post Master of the post office at Sector 14 of Sonepat where the said accounts had been opened, to recover the interest paid since January 1999 in A/c No.58045, on the ground that on death of Smt. Romesh Kumari the amount in the two accounts had exceeded the prescribed limit. Claiming the aforesaid action to be illegal besides deficiency in service the complainant approached the concerned District Forum by way of a complaint.

(2.) The complaint was resisted on the ground that it was due to a mistake of an official of the post office that the complainant was permitted to substitute the name of his wife by the names of his sons and there was no deficiency in the services rendered to him by the opposite parties.

(3.) The District Forum vide its order dated 03-03-2004 allowed the complaint and directed the respondent to treat the accounts as joint accounts in the name of the complainant and his sons and to withdraw the direction to recover interest which had been paid in the said accounts. The respondents were also directed to pay interest in Account No.58045 since January 2002 at the same rate at which interest has been given in the other account No.58062. The respondents were also directed to pay compensation to the tune of Rs.5,000/-. A direction was also given to the Chief Post Master General Haryana Circle to recover the compensation from the salary of the respondents Nos.2 and 3.