POST MASTER GENERAL & ANR ; POST MASTER, GENERAL POST OFFICE Vs. MANOJ KUMAR S/O RAJ, PRESENTLY R/O HOUSE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) These two Revision Petitions, by the Post Master General, GPO at Chandigarh and Post Master, GPO, Lodhi Road, New Delhi, are directed against a common order, dated 14.07.2017, passed by the State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission, UT at Chandigarh (for short "the State Commission") in Appeals No. 120 and 121 of 2017. By the impugned order, while accepting the Complaints filed by the Respondents in these Revision Petitions, alleging deficiency in service on the part of the Petitioners in not delivering the packets, containing their application forms for appearing in the Delhi Judicial Services Examination-2015, by or before 07.11.2015, the last date for submission of such applications, the State Commission has come to the conclusion that there was clear deficiency on the part of the Petitioners in the inordinate delay in delivery of the packets at New Delhi, dispatched through speed post on 02.11.2015 from Chandigarh, observing thus:

(2.) Consequently, the State Commission has directed the Petitioners to pay to each of the Complainants a sum of 25,000/- as compensation for the mental harassment and agony undergone by them for losing the chance to participate in the said examination. The State Commission has also directed that if the said amount is paid to the Complainants within 30 days from the date of receipt of a certified copy of the order, they shall be liable to pay to the Complainants interest @ 12% p.a. from the date of passing of the order till actual payment.

(3.) In the first instance, the Complaints filed by the Respondents were dismissed by the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum-I, UT at Chandigarh (for short "the District Forum") vide its common order dated 16.03.2016 in Consumer Complaints No. 239 and 240 of 2016, on the sole ground that the packets could be delivered in the High Court on account of weekend holidays. Hence, there was no deficiency in service on the part of the Postal Department.