Postal Manual Vol. VIII - India Post

presented and in that case the money will be paid not less than five years after the claim has been
admitted. If, on the other hand, the Currency Department is not satisfied that the missing halves
will not turn up at future date, the Post Office can received only half value immediately and the
other half as and when the counter halves are presented and the counter claims are rejected. In
cases where the missing halves had been tendered and their value paid before presentation of the
safe halves by the Post Office, the Currency Department may pay only the half value of the full
notes. On receipt of the half value in the latter cases, the amount already paid as compensation
should be reoccupied and credited in the accounts of the head office by which the compensation
was paid and, if any balance remains, it should be made over to the sender. In the event of the full
value being recovered the same procedure should be followed.
NOTE 1. – If the contents’ of an insured parcel are damaged by an escape insured article is
first reported should at once give notice to the office of posting of the article for communication to
the sender.
NOTE 2 – If the contents of an insured parcel are damaged by an escape of (say) oil from
any other parcel, the sender of the parcel containing the oil may be held liable civilly for the
compensation paid by the Post Office to the sender of the insured parcel if the leakage was due to
the latter’s negligence in not properly packing the parcel.
81. Compensation for loss of, or damage to, inland uninsured registered articles. – (1)
The Head of a Circle may sanction compensation up to a limit of Rs. 25 in respect of the loss of
any inland uninsured registered letter, packet, or parcel, or its contents, or of any damage caused to
it in the course of transmission through the post, subject to the conditions laid down in the Post
Office Guide. Claims for compensation for the loss of an article, or of any of its contents, should
be decided by the Head of the Circle of the circle in which the office of posting is situated, while
those in respect of damage to an article by the Head of the Circle of the circle in which the office
of delivery is situated. In granting compensation, the following special instructions are to be
carefully borne in mind :-
(a) No compensation should be given in the following cases :-
(i)
(ii)
(iii)
Where the registered article contained anything the insurance of which is
compulsory.
Where the registered article contained nothing of value, e.g., a mere notice to
the addressee.
Where damage has been caused owing to insecure packing.
(b) In no case should compensation be given on account of postage, registration, or packing
charges.
(c) A complaint of loss or damage made by the sender or addressee within the period
prescribed for the submission of a formal claim for compensation, may be regarded as a
claim for compensation.
(d) The fact that the loss of a registered article has not been communicated by the Post
Office to the sender, does not relieve the latter from the Obligation to submit a claim
for compensation within the prescribed time .
In all cases of doubt, a reference should be made to the Director-General.
(2) In the event of the whole, or any portion, of the contents of a lost registered article
being recovered after payment of compensation, it should be left to the option of the sender or
addressee to whom the compensation was paid, to retain the compensation paid to him, or to take
delivery of the recovered articles and refund the whole amount paid as compensation.