Date:27/01/2005 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2005/01/27/stories/2005012711750600.htm

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Compensation ordered for non-delivery of telegram

By K.T. Sangameswaran

CHENNAI, JAN. 26. The State Consumer Disputes Redressal Commission has directed the postal department to pay a compensation of Rs. 2,000 and costs of Rs. 500 to a person for non-delivery of a telegram containing a death message. When such telegrams are not delivered in time, the very purpose of sending them will be defeated, the commission said disposing of an appeal preferred by the department.

The case relates to a complaint by M. Murugesan of Barathi Nagar, Vellore, to the District Consumer Disputes Redressal Forum stating that he booked a telegram in January 1996 to convey his father's death to a relative in Pondicherry. The telegram was received in the Pondicherry office three days after the date of booking. Even then, it was not delivered on the ground that the addressee could not be traced due to insufficient address. Because of this, he was put to mental hardship and embarrassment.

The sub-divisional engineers of the telegraph department at the Head Post Office, Officers Lane, Vellore, and the post office at Karamani Kuppam, Pondicherry, were cited as the opposite parties. The department did not dispute the fact that the telegram was booked and that it was not delivered. It only contended that the complaint was barred under the Indian Telegraph Act.

The lower forum granted Rs. 5000 along with Rs.1,000 towards travelling expenses and Rs. 500 as costs to the complainant. Challenging this, the department filed an appeal. In their order, Justice A. Raman, commission president, and R. Vanaroja, member, did not accept the department's contention.