POST MASTER PATNA Vs. ANIL KUMAR GUPTA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The appellants are P. M. G. Post, Patna and the Senior Superintendent of Post Office, Patna. The respondent is Anil Kumar Gupta.

(2.) The appeal is against an order dated 2.9.1999 passed by District Forum, Patna in Complaint Case No.588/1994 whereby the District Forum directed the O. Ps. (appellants) to pay Rs.5,000 as compensation to the complainant as the speed post article sent by him after payment of charges was not delivered to the addressee at Lucknow within time.

(3.) After notice, the respondent personally appeared on 26.12.2000 and got copy of the appeal and petitions for condonation of delay and stay and yet remained absent on four consecutive dates. Hence, the matter was heard ex parte. Briefly the complaint was that he had sent an application to the U. P. Subordinate Service Commission with Bank Draft on 28.4.1994 by speed post paying the charges of Rs.30. The last date for the receipt of applications in U. P. was 30.4.1994. But his letter was returned to him on 6.5.1994 that it was received after the last date. The articles sent by speed post should have been delivered on the next day viz. , 29.4.2000. Thus, he lost the chance to take the examination and get a job. Hence, the complaint was filed.