Southern States - Tamil Nadu   

Northern Rly. told to pay compensation for delay in parcel delivery

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI Oct. 20. A city consumer forum has directed the Chief Claims Officer, Northern Railway, to pay Rs.5,000 to a complainant for the mental agony suffered by him due to deficiency of service. The forum also directed the railways to pay Rs.1,000 as costs.

P. T. Ezhil Selvan of Mogappair West here complained to the District Consumer Disputes Redress Forum, Chennai (North) that he sent a parcel containing 20 copies of a book to the Assistant Director, Indian Council of Historical Research, New Delhi, in December 2000.

Though the council official made attempts to take delivery on several days, it was not delivered. The complainant's representation to the railway authorities was in vain. The council had sanctioned Rs.12,000 as grant for publishing the book. As the copies did not reach the council, it did not release the grant.

In his additional complaint, Mr. Selvan submitted that, in June 2001, the railway board informed him about the availability of the parcel and said demurrage charges of Rs.500 should be paid. The council paid the charges in October 2001 and took delivery of the books. Meanwhile, following a request from ICHR, the complainant sent copies of the books again by post in March 2001. The railways submitted that the forum had no jurisdiction to entertain the complaint.

The complainant could file the claim only before the claims tribunal.

In the order, the forum president, V. Kengasubbaiah and Members, V. M. Dhandapani and Nagammai Karuppaiah, said though the parcel arrived in New Delhi in December itself, it was not known why the railway authorities did not inform either the complainant or the council. They had not stated any reason for non-delivery of the parcel for more than 10 months. Thus the railways had committed deficiency of service. The complainant was entitled to claim compensation.

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