KANALA KODANDA REDDY Vs. SUPERINTENDENT DEPARTMENT OF POSTS

JUDGEMENT

(1.) The complaint C. D. C.77/95 District Forum, Chittoor was filed against Superintendent, Department of Posts, Tirupathi, (2) The Post Master, S. V. University Post Office, Tirupathi, and (3) The Post Master General, General Post Office, Hyderabad claiming an amount of Rs.4,99,900/- as damages or compensation and for costs.

(2.) The complainant, a Scientist in the Department of Anthropology, S. V. University, Tirupathi pursuant to a brochure issued by the International Symposium on Atherosclerosis organised by eminent Scientists on October 9th and 14th of 1994 at Central Canada sent a research abstract on 2.4.1994 by speed post by affixing stamps worth Rs.400/- to the send Symposium. On enquiry he came to know that the abstract was not received by the Symposium Authorities in Canada. Alleging that due to the negligence of the Postal Authorities, the complainant lost a golden opportunity to attend a Symposium in Foreign Country, he estimated the loss suffered by him at Rs.6 lakhs, but confined his loss to Rs.4.99.900/- in the complaint.

(3.) The opposite parties in their version admitted that the complainant booked a speed post cover on 2.4.1994 addressed to International Symposium on Atherosclerosis, Montreal, Canada and also made a complaint on 12.9.1994 about the non-delivery of the article. The complaint about loss of postal article has to be preferred within two months from the date of booking of the article and as the complaint was preferred after a lapse of two months, the complaint is liable to be dismissed and Sec.6 of the Indian Post Office Act is a bar to maintainability of the complaint and the compensation claimed is quite exhorbitant.