Postal Manual Vol. VIII - India Post

(2) The Superintendent should make it a point at each inspection a set to examine the
guidance book to see that it is in good order and the pages are complete, and should also satisfy
himself that the instructions are thoroughly understood by the sorters.
256. Supervision of sorting work.- The Superintendent should devote the greater portion
of him time and insist on his Inspectors devoting the whole of their time to the supervision of the
work of sorting. He should observe whether the sorting is performed with rapidity and precision,
and take notice of any carelessness or inefficiency on the part of the sorters. Every missent article
should be carefully examined and the cause of mistransmission ascertained, with a view to steps
being taken to check the irregularity. If any sorter appears to be incompetent, the Superintendent
should examine him in the sorting list, if there is time to do so; otherwise he should fix a date for
the examination of the sorter either; by himself, or by the Inspector.
257. Examination of mail bags and labelled bundles.- (1) The Superintendent should
carefully re-examine the contents of some of the mail bags and station bundles made up by the set,
before they are finally closed. Special attention should be paid to the examination of mail bags
made up for sorting sections and mail offices and of sorting mail bags and station bundles prepared
for post offices. In checking the contents of sorting mail bags, the Superintendent should
particularly note whether station bundles are invariably prepared, where necessary and whether the
check-slips placed in these bundles are legibly addressed, stamped and initialled by the sorter who
checks their contents. He should also see whether unregistered articles not sent in station bundles
are invariably tied up in sorting bundles containing not more than 50 to 60 letters and that large
articles, such as packets and newspapers, are bundled separately. No unbundled mail letter should
be sent to any section or office.
(2) The Superintendent should also examine the contents of some of the labelled bundles
passing in transit through the set, and initial the check-slips placed in them. A labelled bundle
which has once been checked by a supervising officer need not be re-examined by another officer.
258. Examination of return-train mails.- (1) The Superintendent should invariably be
present in the van when return train mail bags are being closed or are received by the set, and
should carefully examine the contents of the bags. When examining the contents of a return-train
mail bag made up by the set, he should observe whether the articles are properly prepared for
despatch and see the bag closed in his presence having previously noted the number of
unregistered articles placed in each return-train bundle, with the object of checking the entries
made on the labels by the receiving set, when the labels are sent to him later with the daily reports.
Some times, to screen themselves from the consequences of overcarrying articles, sorters secrete
them in the letter-box of the van, or conceal them in a sorting compartment other than the returntrain
one, or detain them till a subsequent return-train mail bag is made up. Any concealment of
this kind is a serious offence, and every instance detected should be severely noticed. The
Superintendent should also observe whether proper care is exercised to ensure the delivery of
return-train mails so as to be received by the return-train section, especially when the train of the
despatching set is running late.
(2) In examining the contents of a return-train mail bag received, the Superintendent should
observe whether the articles were properly prepared by the despatching set, and check the
unregistered articles with the entries on the return-train labels. The articles should then be made
over to the head sorter, and the Superintendent, should see whether they are dealt with by him in
the prescribed manner.
259. Points of detail to be attended to.- Besides instructions given in the foregoing rules,
the Superintendent should direct his attention to the following questions, which will suggest the