7.00 p.m. on week days only. Payment of T.M.Os will also be effected upto 6 p.m.

(iii) On Sundays and National Holidays as well as other P.O. holidays the night Post Offices function and observe restricted working hours. These offices work for one shift only from 10:00 to 17.00 hours. The delivery functions of the offices are entirely suspended as well as the payment of Money Orders and Saving Banks and post office Certificates are also suspended on these days.

(iv) Night Post Offices are indicated in the list of Post Offices in Part III of this Guide.

4. Mobile Post offices – Mobile Post Offices are functioning at Bombay, Calcutta, Delhi, Madras, Ahmedabad, Nagpur, Hyderabad, Bangalore, Kanpur, Poona, Jaipur and Bhilai Industrial Township. These Mobile Post Offices are intended to provide the facility of late posting in the different areas of the cities at different timings according to a fixed schedule (excluding insured and V.P.). “These offices remain closed on Sundays and Postal Holidays.” The Mobile Post Offices sell stamps and Postal stationery, grant certificate of posting, book surface and air mail registered articles of the letter mail (excluding insured and V.P.) and air parcels besides accepting unregistered articles of the letter mail for dispatch. The mobile Post Offices at Madras and Nagpur are also permitted to book money orders.

BUSINESS HOURS

5.Normal week days.- (i) At every Post Office and RMS Office, the hours during which business is transacted with the public and the times at which mails are delivered and dispatched are conspicuously notified. The public business hours are fixed with regard to local convenience and the arrival and departure timings of the mails and all work at the Post office counters is stopped precisely at the latest hours fixed. The business hours in the principal Post Offices are generally as indicated below on normal week days, which are not post office holidays.

For Reference and enquiries, sale of the During the entire working hour of the office. postage stamps and stationery and grant of certificate of posting

For booking of registered and insured articles, For about six to seven hours (On Saturdays including value payable articles parcels and usually for five hours stopping at 3 pm) telegraphic money orders.

For issue of money orders, sale and payment of For about five hours (One Saturdays for three postal orders, Savings Bank and Post Office hours stopping at 1 p.m.) Certificate transactions and payment of telephone bills. Etc.

(ii) Post Offices in charge of extra-departmental agents are kept open for a maximum period of five hours only.

NOTE:-The delivery of registered, insured and V.P. articles, and payment of money orders at the window of the Post Office usually be attended to between the hours fixed for the booking of the respective classes of articles.

(iii) Arrangements have been made in most stationery RMS offices for the booking of registered articles of letter mail, RD articles and the sale of postage stamps and stationery. The hours during which these services will be available are notified at each office. A list of R.M.S. Offices doing such Post Office work will be found in Part III of this Guide.

(iv)

Facilities are provided at all important offices for the posting of correspondence and for the booking of registered letters for a limited period beyond the normal scheduled hours on payment of a late fee. The rates of late fee charged are indicated in the Appendix to this Part.

7. Business done on Sundays and P.O. holidays

(a)

Except the Night Post Offices all post offices Mobile Post Offices are generally closed on Sundays and PO Holidays and no business transacted with the public. There is also no clearance of street letter post boxes delivery of mails on such days.

(b)

Facilities are provided for the posting of letters on which the prescribed late fee is paid during certain specific ho urs in the letter boxes at RMS offices and at selected offices. Such postings can also, be made in the letter boxes of the mail vans of R.M.S. Sections, Machine franked articles should not be posted either in the Post Office letter box or the mail van letter box.

(c)

Registered newspapers and packets of registered news papers are accepted on Sundays and PO holidays without payment of any late fee in Press Sorting Offices,

R.M.S. offices and at Night Post Offices.

(d) Generally, all RMS offices stamps and postal stationary and grant certificates of posting and book registered articles on payment of usual late fee during specified hours on Sundays and PO holidays.

NOTE 1 :-Postage stamps, postcards, inland letters, and envelopes are also sold at the telegraph branches of the combined post and telegraph offices the hours they are open to public.

8. Post offices Holidays – The following holidays are observed as Post Office holidays :

(1)

Republic Day (26^th January)

(2)

Independence Day (15^th August)

(3)

Mahatma Gandhi’s Birthday (2^nd October)

(4)

Idul-Zuha (Bakr-Id)

(5)

Muharram

(6)

Idul-Fitr

(7)

Good Friday (Friday before Easter Sunday)

(8)

Christmas Day (25^th December)

(9)

Budha Purnima

(10)

Guru Nanak Birthday

(11)

Mahavir Jayanti

In addition the post offices observe post office holidays on 5 other days which vary from circle to circle.

PAYMENT OF POSTAGE

9.Desirability of prepayment of postage – It is the endeavour of the Post Office to forward by the earliest possible mail and effect delivery as expeditiously as possible of all fully prepaid postal articles. Unpaid articles or articles on which the postage is not fully prepaid are not afforded any greater security in transmission over other unregistered mail. On the other hand, such articles are liable to detention for the purpose of taxing the postage due on them. The are, also, not issued along with the special deliveries intended only for unregistered mails but held over for the general deliveries for all classes of mail.

10. Postage Stamps and Stationery. – (i) Payment of postage is normally to be effected by means of postage stamps issued by the Indian Post Office under the authority of the Govt. of India. The Post Office issues, also, certain items of stationery like envelopes, inland letter cards, postcards with the value of the requisite stamps embossed on them. If the postage required on such embossed postal stationery is more than the value of the stamp printed on the article, the difference can be made good by affixing additional postage stamps of the requisite value.

(ii) The denominations of postage stamps and the varieties of postal stationery issued by the Indian Post Office have been indicated in the Appendix to this Part.

NOTE:-Post Offices also, sell Revenue stamps issued by the Central Government. These stamps cannot be used for payment of postage.

(iii) Postage charges can, also, be paid by means of a proper impression or impressions of a franking machine or in certain cases in cash as indicated in Clauses 11 and 12 respectively.

(iv) Philatelic Bureaux – In order to cater to the needs of philatelists and stamp collectors, the department has set up Philatelic Bureaux at the principal Post Offices at allahabad, Ahmedabad, Bangalore, Bhopal, Bombay, Calcutta, Chandigarh, Srinagar, Cuttack, Hyderabad, Jaipur, Kanpur, Kurnool, Lucknow, Madras, Nagpur, New Delhi, Patna, Shillong, Simla, Trivandrum, 1 CBPO C/o 50 APO and 2 CBPO C/o 99 APO.

Overseas orders are executed at the Indian Philatelic Bureau, Bombay G.P.O. Bombay.

N.B. :- For details refer to Section VII of this Guide.

11. Franking Machine.-A postal franking machine is a stamping machine intended to stamp impressions of dies of approved design on private and official postal articles in payment of postage and postal fees. A commission of 1-1/2 per cent is permitted on the value of franks used.

2. For being recognized valid, the impressions of ‘frank’ should consist of the following dies :

(a) Value Die and (b) Licence Die.

3. At present the following are the authorized dealers in Postal Franking Machines:

(i)

M/s. Roneo-Vickers India Ltd., 184 Jor Bagh, New Delhi-110003 for ‘Neopost’ manufactured by them;

(ii)

M/s. Gillanders Arbuthnot & Co. Ltd., Gillanders House, Post Box 174, Calcutta 1 for ‘Stampmaster’ manufactured by Republic Engineering Corpn. Ltd.;

(iii) M/s. Macneil & Magor Ltd., 2 Fairlie Place, Calcutta-1 for Kilburn 999 & Kilburn 9999 manufactured by them;

(iv)

M/s. Postalia Interfrank Pvt. Ltd., 1/13, Edward Elliots Road, Madras-4 for ‘Armcess’ manufactured by Armcess Engineers Pvt. Ltd.

(v)

Northern Zone distributors – M/s. Continental Commercial Co. Ltd., M

43. Block Connaught circus, New Delhi-110001 Eastern Zone Distributor. M/s. Continental Commercial Co. Ltd., 8/1, Dalhousie Square, East, Calcutta 70001 and southern Zone Distributors M/s. Sarada Agencies, 1/155, Mount Road, Madras – 60002 for ‘RECO Twelve value Postal Franking Machines manufactured by Republic Engineering Corporation ltd., 16, Bamasharan Roay road, Calcutta-700034.

(vi)

Messrs. Business Forms Limited, 6-A Middleton Street, Calcutta-700071 and its branches for ‘Postmete’ Electrical Multi-value Postal Franking Machine manufactured by them.

1. The use of a franking machine except under a valid licence issued by the Head of the Postal Division in which the machine is located, is prohibited. Any person wishing to use a franking machine shall apply to the Head of the Postal Division concerned in the
2. prescribed form through the authorized dealer. A licence is necessary for each frank ing machine used.
1. Machine franked articles can be posted at not more than two offices specified by SPO in the licence. Where only one office of posting desired, these must be handed in by a representative of the licensee at the Counter of the post office. Where the licensee desire to post them at two offices, they may be handed in either at a Post Office and, or at a Post Office and a night post office. The franked articles will be tendered at the counter bundled in separate bundles according to the value of the franks and each consignment must be accompanied by a Window Delivery Ticket for identification of the licensee’s representative.
2. With the last despatch of the day or on the close of the business hours of the day, the licensee will be required to tender at the office of posting a Daily Docket (in the prescribed form) duly filled in, signed and dated.
3. The impressions of the franking machines recorded on postal articles should not be interfered with in any way. Impression should be of bright red colour, clear and distinct and should not overlap. As far as possible, they should be on the right top corner on the address side of the article itself or an address wrapper or an address label firmly attached to it. Franking will be allowed upto any amount. There may be more than one impression of the value die but only one of the licence die on each article.
4. Machine franked articles posted in letter boxes shall be treated as unpaid articles. Unregistered articles bearing impressions of the previous date shall also not be accepted.
1. In places where the authorized dealers have their own servicing centers with qualified and experienced staff, the repairs and servicing will be carried out at those centers in the presence of the postal official deputed there for the purpose. In other places, the machines will be sent to the post office where the Daily Docket Register is maintained. The post office will remove the license die from the machine before it is sent for repairs. 23-7/80CI dt. 11-6-80.
2. The re-setting of franking machine may be done at the premises of the holders of the machines and the machine need not be brought to the post office for this purpose. If any discrepancy in the metres is noticed, the licensee shall immediately stop using of the franking machine and take it to the post office for setting it right.
5. The licence is granted subject to the following conditions.

(i)

A licence for the use of a Post Office Automatic Franking machine in India will be granted on application to the Head of the Postal Division concerned who reserves to himself the right of refusing or canceling a licence without assigning any reason.

(ii)

The Franking Machine must be obtained by the licensee only from the firm authorized by the Director-General of Posts and Telegraphs and specified in the license, and before being brought into use must be shown to the post office.

(iii) The Director-General will not accept any responsibility for any damage done to or repairs required by the franking machine. Any arrangements for the maintenance of the machine must be made between the licensee and the firm supplying the machine.

(iv)

Each machine will be sealed by the suppliers before being delivered, and the post office will affix a lead seal at the bottom. The seal must not be broken or handled in any way by the licensee.

(v)

The licensee must all reasonable times allow an authorized officer of the Department to inspect the machine without notice.

(vi)

The licensee must take adequate steps to guard against the fraudulent use of the machine, in particular he must have the detachable meter, where provided, padlocked to the body machine and the key kept by a responsible person.

(vii) The licensee will pay in advance a sum representing the amount of postage for which he wishes the machine to be set at the time of the purchase. This sum must not be less than Rs. 100 or more than Rs. 50,000. A rebate @ 1 ½ per cent will be allowed, whenever the meter is reset, on the value of impressions used.

(viii) (a) Wherever the licensee wishes to deposit any sum to advance and to have the meter of the machine reset, he will produce the franking machine with the Franking Machine Record Book and the Window Ticket at the post office specified in the licence and tender an application for the same. Meter of the machine will in all cases be rest at the post office.

(b)

For the purpose of the accounts, two registers shall be maintained, one by the post office and other by the user in which each reading shall be recorded and the settlement of accounts shown. All servicing and repairs to the machines will be carried out by the authorized suppliers at the premises of the post office except at places where there are separate servicing centers of the suppliers. In the latter case, the servicing and repairs will be done in the presence of the postal official deputed for the purpose. At places where servicing and repairs to the machines cannot be carried out by the authorized suppliers at the premises of the Post Office, the machine will be sent to the Post Office, where the Daily Docket Register is maintained, for removing the licence die from the machine before it is sent for repairs. The re-setting of the meter after repairs will be done at the post office.

(c)

Any change of location of the machine, except in cases of repairs, shall be notified to the Head of the Division and the office of posting.

(ix)

All stamp impressions for the purpose of pre-payment of postage must be made as far as possible on the right hand top corner of the address side of the postal article itself or a wrapper or label firmly attached to it. Cut-out labels with frank impressions on them for pre-payment of postage can be used on all postal articles subject to the following conditions :

1. Not more than one cut-out label bearing the frank impression or impressions in full payment of postage and other fees will be permitted to be affixed on such postal articles.
2. When more than one frank impression is obtained on a cut-out label or wrapper, the impressions should not overlap nor be more than 1 cm. Apart. In such cases, the impressions of the stamp bearing the name of the firm, the licence number, the date and any slogan used should appear only once and should not overlap and frank impression.
3. The cut-out label should be securely pasted to the postal articles on the right hand side above the name and address of the addressee. Cut-out labels may not be affixed to separate address labels attached to such postal articles; frank impressions in such cases should be taken on such address labels themselves.
4. The cut-out labels should have the name and address of the sender printed on the left hand side.
5. The total value of the frank impression or impressions should be written in figures in red ink on the cut-out label below the printed name and address of the sender.

In cases where the name and address of the sender is printed elsewhere on the address side of the postal articles, it will not be necessary to have his name and address printed on the cut-out labels.

(x)

Franking will be allowed upto any amount. Impressions which must be of a bright red colour must be clear and distinct, otherwise the article is liable to be refused by the post office.

(xi)

(a) Postal articles for dispatch franked by a machine must be tendered at the window of the office/offices for posting shown in the licence on the very day of the date of frank borne by them. Those bearing previous or later dates or posted in the letter boxes will be treated as unpaid while those tendered or any other post office will not be accepted. Articles bearing the frank of a date immediately preceding the date of presentation of the articles will, however, be accepted provided they bear also the impression of the licence die of the date of presentation. Each consignment shall be accompanied by the Window Ticket for the identification of the licensee’s servant or representative.

(b)

Each dispatch of articles should be tendered in separate bundles according to the value of frank. Along with the last dispatch made on any day, the licensee shall deliver at the office of posting a daily docket in the prescribed form duly filled in and signed, under receipt to be obtained at the counter-foil thereon. A separate daily docket should be submitted for each machine possessed by the licensee. In case, where the licence has been permitted to post the articles at two offices, the daily docket shall be submitted to the office where the last dispatch is tendered.

(xii) Allowance will be made for any impression made in error (less deduction of 5 per cent on face value) on surrender of the envelopes or wrappers, provided that the impression is legible and that the entire envelope or wrapper is produced and that the claim is preferred within three months of the date of the first impression.

(xiii) An advertisement device may also appear alongside the date stamp impression provided that :

1. it relates solely to the businesss or professions of the licensee.
2. it is quite separate from the impressions of the identification mark, license number and the date stamp and postmark.
3. it is confined to the top left hand corner of the envelope or card.
4. the cost of cutting the dies is met by the licensee.

(xiv) (1) No advertisement device shall appear on the stamping die unless it fulfils the conditions laid down in the preceding paragraph and has first been approved by the Head of the Postal Division; (2) the licensee can get approved from the Head of the Division as many slogans and advertisements as he desires provided not more than one slogan or advertisement is used on one article; (3) No change in the tenor of the advertisement shall be made once it is approved, without similar prior consent from the Head of the Postal Division concerned.

(xv) In the event of a breach of any condition of the licence, the licence will be forthwith cancelled by the Head of the Postal Circle who will not be responsible for any loss which the licensee incurs thereby. Any sum that may be due to the licensee on account of postage advanced will, however, be refunded to him and any sum that may be due to the Department on account of postage will be recovered from him.

(xvi) The above conditions can be varied, altered or supplemented by the Director-General, Posts and Telegraphs. This licence shall be subject to such varied, altered or supplemented conditions with effect from the date of their notification.

11. (ii) Conditions for Hiring the Franking Machine to Government Offices/Ministries/Departments.

General Conditions :

1. A licence for the use of Franking Machine on hire from Department of Posts by the Government Offices will be granted by the Postmaster General concerned on the Ministry/Office making an application for the same.
2. The hiring scheme of Franking Machines for Govt. Offices/Departments/Ministries will be available at the places where postal machines repair organizations are available.
3. The Postmaster General concerned reserves to himself the right of refusing or canceling licence without assigning any reasons therefore.
4. The licensing authority shall specify in the licence the two offices where the mails of the licencee will be accepted. One of the two specified offices shall be the main office an the status of that office should be Lower Selection Grade or above.
5. The Franking Machine will be supplied by the licensing authority.
6. The Department of Posts will not accept any responsibility for any damage done due to the machine.
7. Word ‘Service’ will be used in the licence die to facilitate identification of such letters as official dak.
8. The licencee must take adequate steps to guard against the fraudulent use of the machine by its employees.
9. Any change in location of the machine shall be notified by the licencee to the Postmaster general and the Office of posting.
10. A licence is necessary for the possession of each Franking Machine.
11. The machine so licensed will be utilized for franking of official mails of the office of licencee only.
12. The licensing authority will also issue window delivery ticket to the licencee, along with the licence.
1. The licencing authority shall maintain the following records :
1. Franking Machine Register regarding Postings.
2. Franking Machine Record Book.

These registers should be scrutinized by the gazetted officer incharge of the dispatch section having the Franking Machine on the last working day of every

week to see that they are being properly maintained. He will furnish a certificate about meter reading as on the last working day of each month.

1. The licencee must at all reasonable times allow the authorized officer of the department of Posts to inspect the machine and connected records without notice.
1. The main Post Office shall maintain the following records :
1. Register showing list of licencees of Franking Machines authorized to post their articles in the Post Office. (This should be maintained in the 2^nd Office also).
2. The register showing payments of advance rentals. The register will have a separate page allotted to each licensee.

(iii) Franking Machine record book.

(iv) Franking Machine ledger. Payments setting/Re-setting and sealing of the Machine.

1. The licensee will pay in advance the amount of annual rental. The licensee will also pay the sum in advance representing the amount of postage for which he wishes the machine to be set at the time of hire and on subsequent occasions. This sum must not be less than Rs. 100/-or more than Rs. 9900/-.
2. The payments including those of advance rentals should be either by cheque or by bank draft.
3. The Post Office shall grant a receip t for any money paid by licencee in form ACG-67.
4. The entries in respect of advance payments should be made by the setting/re-setting official in the Franking Machine Record Book. He will also make entries thereof in the connected records of the Post Offices and these entries should be got attested by the PM/DPM/SPM.
5. The entry regarding advance payments should also be made by the setting/re-setting official in the body of the Franking Machine register of Postings. Before doing so he will check the entries in the said register with reference to the entries in the said register with reference to the entries in the F.M. Ledger and re-concile the discrepancy, if any.
6. The machine will be set/re-set by an officer of the Department not below the rank of Public Relations Inspector (Postal) at the premises of the Ministry Department on 1^st or subsequent deposits made by the licencee. He (Officer of the Deptt.) will also seal the meter of the machine with his seal at the same time.
7. One of the bottom lead seals will be of the PMRO and the other of Gazetted Officer in charge of the dispatch section of Govt. Offices / Deptt./Ministry having the Franking Machine.
8. The licencee will ensure that the seals on the Franking Machine are not tampered with/broken/handled in any way.
9. No official other than the one authorized for the purpose will tamper with the seal in any way. The instances of the tampering with the seals should be reported to the Postmaster of the main office where the postings are authorized.
10. The seals for franking machines and pliers for lead seal for sealing the franking machines shall remain in the personal custody of the official/officer authorized to use them during office hours. The incharge of the office of the custodian of the seals & pliers thereof will be responsible to keep the same under proper joint custody after office hours. In the case of Post Office the seals and pliers will remain in the joint custody of the PM/DPM/SPM and the treasurer/Joint Custodian of Cash after office hours.

Conditions for accepting of Franks :

1. Franking will be allowed upto any amount.
2. All frank impressions for the purpose of pre-payment of postage must be made as far as possible on the right hand top corner of the address side of the postal article itself or a wrapper or label firmly attached to it. Cut out labels with franking impressions on them for pre-payment of postage can be used subject to the conditions laid down in the post office guide.
3. Impressions must be of a bright red colour, clear and distinct otherwise the article is liable to be refused by the Post Office.
4. i. The franked articles shall be posted in not more than two offices specified in the licence and the franked articles must be handed over at the counter of the Post Office or mail office authorized to receive the franked mail on the very day of the date of frank. In mail offices such articles must be tendered before the latest hour notified by the Supdt. RMS. The

main office shall be a Post Office of lower Selection Grade status or above.

ii. The franked articles bearing previous or later dates or posted in the letter box will be treated as un-paid, while those tendered at any other PO will not be accepted. Articles bearing the frank of a date immediately preceeding the date of presentation of the articles will, however, be accepted provided they bear also the impression of the licensed die of the date of presentation.

30. The following procedure must be insisted upon and should be strictly endorsed in all the offices :

(i)

While accepting the posting production of window delivery ticket. Franking Machine Register of Postings and dispatch slip should be insisted upon.

(ii)

Articles should be given for acceptance in separate bundles of fixed no. like 50 for each value of frank.

(iii) Such letters should have the name and address of the sender on the left side bottom corner of the cover.

(iv)

Office which accepts the posting should test check the bundles to see if various articles have been granked for correct postage and also the total value of the articles tallies with the details given in the dispatch slip & that entries in col. 1 to 3 of the Franking Machines register of posting have correctly been made. A separate dispatch slip should be there for articles franked with different machines. He will then put his initials, date and date stamp in the Franking Machine Register of Postings and return the same to the licencee or his agent.

(v)

Along with the last posting of the day, submission of daily dispatch docket as prescribed should be submitted for each machine.

(vi)

If any of the postings is done at an office other than the main post office, the dispatch slip and the daily dispatch docket should be transferred to the main office which should ensure continuity of the daily docket by referring to the meter reading as indicated on the last daily docket on record and that the amount of daily consumption has correctly been recorded therein with reference to dispatch slip(s) for the day.

(vii) If any docket or slip is found missing in the main office, a copy thereof should be called for from the licencee and kept in the file at the appropriate place. The Franking Machine Record Book and ledger should be maintained properly and checked by the Inspecting Officers during the annual inspection.

(viii) The entries in the Franking Machine ledger should be checked once in a month by the PM/DPM/SPM to see if they are correctly being made w.r.to the daily dockets etc. He will sign the last entry checked in token of having carried out this check.

31. Procedure for the repairs of the hired Franking Machines

(i)

Arrangements for the maintenance, repairing and oiling machines will be made by the deptt.

(ii)

in case the defect does not relate to the meter the machine should be opened and repaired by the mechanic in the presence of the Gazetted drawing and disbursing office or an officer of an equal rank in charge of the dispatch section having the Franking Machine.

(iii) In case the defects relate to the meter also the machine should be repaired by the mechanic in the presence of the aforesaid officer and the PRI.

(iv)

In case the machine required extensive repairs in the workshop of the Deptt. a stand by machine will be supplied by the Deptt. to the licensee for use during the period the defective machine remains in the workshop. The meter in the standby machine will be set according to the reading of the machine of the licenses. A record to this effect will be made in the Franking Machine Record Book and FM Register of postings under the signatures of the mechanic PRI and the officer in charge of the dispatch section having the Franking Machine.

(v)

The entries to the effect that the machine was defective and repaired should be made in the Franking Machine Record Books, where meter readings before and after the repairs should also be recorded. These entries should be attested by the mechanic and other officer (s) mentioned in item (ii) & (iii) above as the case may be. These entries should also be made in the PO records viz. F.M. Record Book & F.M. Ledger & three entries should be attested by the PM/DPM/SPM.

(vi)

I. The Manager PMRO will maintain a register for repairs in respect of the repairs carried out to the hired new machine.

The register repairs and the job card are to be preserved for

2 years and will be open to check by the authorized official of the

Deptt. of Posts at any time.

Miscellaneous

1. Refund will be made for any impression made in error (less a deduction of 5 per cent on face value) on surrendering the envelopes or wrappers provided that impression is legible and that the entire envelope or wrapper is produced and that the claim is preferred within one month of the date of first impression.
2. An advertisement device will also be provided by the Department along side the stamp impression on specific request of the licencee on the conditions that it relates solely to the business or profession of the licencee and the cost of cutting the die is met by the licencee.
3. In the event of breach of any of the prescribed conditions the licence will be forthwith cancelled by the licensing authority who will not be responsible for any loss which the licensee may incur thereby. Any sum that be due to the licensee on account of postage advance will, however, be refunded to him and any sum that may be due to the Department on account of postage will be recovered from him.
4. The above conditions can be varied, altered or supplemented by the Director General, Posts. The licence will be subject to such varied, altered or supplemented conditions with effect from the date of their notification.

FRANKING MACHINE WINDOW TICKET

1. Licence No. & date :
2. Name and address of the licensee :
1. Particulars of the Franking Machine :
1. Name and address of the supplier :
2. Model :
2. (iii) Manufacturers No. of the machine :
1. Meter(s) No. if any :
2. Identification ma rk of licence die :
3. Franking Machine Licence No. & date :
4. Period of validity From To
5. Renewal order No. & date Period of renewal Signature of licensing Authority
6. Office(s) of Posting (i) Main Office

(ii) Other Office

Signatures Signature Signature Of the PMDPM/SPM of Licensee of the Licensing authority

Note : This ticket must be produced by the licensee’s agent at the time of tendering Postal Articles franked by the machines & also when he visits the PO(s) for any other work in connection with the Licensed Franking Machine.

LIST OF LICENSEES OF HIRED FRANKING MACHINES AUTHORISED TO POST THEIR ARTICLES (To be maintained in the Post Offices)

Sl. No.	Name of other office of posting	Name and address of Licensee	Licensing Authority	Licence No. & date	Page of entry in the daily ledger in case of	Particulars of payment of advance rentals
					main office
						Renewal order No. & Date	Period for which paid From To
1	2	3	4	5	6	7

Signature of the PA Group Officer

8

REGISTER SHOWING PAYMENT OF ADVANCE RENTALS AND POSTAGE IN RESPECT OF HIRED MACHINES Note : Separate pages to be allotted to each machine.

Name & address	Licence No.	Machine No.
of the Licensee
	Make of the Machine

Date	Amount	Amount Paid on account of advance rentals Period from which rent is paidMode of payment No. & date of receipt granted From to				Initials of the DA	Initials of the Group Officer in charge
	(i)	(ii)	(iii)	(iv)	(v)

FRANKING MACHINE RECORD BOOK (To be maintained by the main PO and the licencee)

Book No. (Sl.No. of list of F/M being maintained by the main P.O.) Name and address of the licensee. Particulars of the Franking Machine :

(i)

Name and address of the supplier

(ii)

Model

(iii) Manufacturer’s No. of the machine

(iv)

Meter No. if any

(v)

Frank Value Address of the Licensing authority Particulars of the Licence No.

Date : Period of validity of the licence : Date of delivery of the machine : Particulars of the renewal of the licences :

Date of renewal Period of removal Signature of the From to DA/PM/DPM/SPM Office of Posting : Main Post Office : Other Office : Signature Signature of Signature of Of Licensee PRI/APM/ASPM/ Joint Custodian of Cash/Treasurer

FRANKING MACHINE RECORD BOOK

Date	Last	Amount	Mode of	Total	Fixed	PO Meter			Initials of	Initials of	Remarks
	Balance	Paid to PO	payment (No. & date of ACG-67 receipt)	Amount	meter	Before setting		After setting	the setting officer	the PM/SPM/ DPM	if any
1	2	3	4	5	6		7		8	9	10

Note :- 1. No. of Licence & manufacturers No. of the machine should also be noted at the top of each page.

1. Entries regarding repairs etc. should be made in the body of the register.
2. Separate pages should be allotted for each licensee.

FRANKING MACHINE LEDGER TO BE MAINTAINED IN THE MAIN POST OFFICE

(i)

Licence No. (ii) Manufacturers No. of the machine

(ii)

Other Office of Posting (iii) Model of the machine :

Date	Ascending meter reading	Credit meter reading	Consumption during the day	Amount deposited	Particulars of the deposit (ACG 67 R.No. & date)	Balance in the meter	PO meter reading after setting	Initials of setting/ resetting official/Da	Initials of the Grp. Officer PM/DPM/ SPM	Remarks
1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	10	11

1. Separate page should be assigned to each licencee.
2. Entries in cols. 5, 6 & 8 will be made by the setting/re-setting official at the time of setting/re-setting. This official will also note the balance in col.7 put his balance in P.O. meter Rdg.

FRANKING MACHINE REGISTER REGARDING POSTING

(To be maintained by the Licencee)

title Page

Name of Licensee…………………………………………. Office authorized to accept mails Address of Licensing authority……………………………. (i) Main Office Licence No. & date ……………………………………….. (ii) Other Office Machine No. ………………………………………………. Model No. …………………………………………………. Value of Unit Frank ……………………………………….. Particulars of the supplier ………………………………….

Signature of the Postmaster

Inside entries

Machine No. Post Office Licence No.

Date Meter reading before Meter reading after Initials of PO Official Date Stamp Dispatch dispatch

Note : The Entry regarding advance payments should also be made by the setting/re-setting official in the body of the Franking Machine Register of Posting.

ANNEXURE-B DESPATCH SLIP (To accompany each consignment of franked postal articles tendered for dispatch)

Despatch No. ………………………………………………. Date ………………………………. No. of Licencee ……………………………………………… No. of Licence ……………………………………………… No. of window ticket ……………………………………………

………………. Value of unit Frank ……………………………. Machine franked articles of the following frank Value are tendered in separate bundle as shown against each below :DATE STAMP OF OFFICE FOR POSTING (Signature of Licensee)

Frank Vale	No. of bundles	No. of articles in each	Total Value	Remarks
		Bundle
1	2	3	4	5

Total value of the Despatch …………………………………………………..

Annexure C

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS DEPARTMENT OF POSTS (counterfoil) (Franking Machine daily docket)

Name of Licensee ………………………………………… 1. Name of the Licensee …………………………………..

No. of window ticket of the machine 2. No. of window ticket for the machine ………………….

Meter reading at close of …………………………… (date) I certify that at the close of business today, meter readings Ascending meter ………………………………………….. the machine relating to the window ticket mentioned are shown below :

Credit meter ………………………………………………. 1. Ascending meter ………………………………………. (To be filled in by the office for posting) 2. Credit meter

3. No. of dispatches made during the day Received daily docket dated ………………………………… 4. Total consumption during the day. Recorded in reading register ………………………………… Date stamp

Signature of official of the (Signature of Licensee) office for posting.

(DATE STAMP OF THE OFFICE FOR POSTING)

Note :-In calculating the consumption during the month the No. of units

in a complete cycle of the ascending meter should be added to the meter reading on the last date of current month for each occasion the ascending meter completed the cycle during the month.

REGISTER SHOWING PARTICULARS OF REPAIRS MADE IN THE FRANKING MACHINES (To be maintained by PMRO)

Name of the office where the machine is installed	Particulars of the frankingmachine	Date of which information regarding defects in the F/M was received	Name of the mechanic whoattend therepairs	Date on which the mechanic was deputed and the machine was repaired.	Reasons for delay in repairs if any	Meter reading at the time of repairs.
1	2	3	4	5	6	7

Meter reading after the	Signature of the	Signature of the Manager
machine was repaired	mechanic
8	9	10

12. Prepayment of postage in cash - (1) Certain important post offices are authorized by the Head of the Circle to realize the postage charges in cash from firms or other persos who post a very large number of unregistered packets subject to a minimum of 500 packets at a time in big cities and 250 in small towns. Certain post offices in Bombay, Calcutta, Madras, Nagpur and Delhi are also authorized by the Heads of the circle to realize the postage and registration fee on ordinary registered articles of letter mail in cash provided the sender uses special registered journals for bookinig of registered articles and the total number of articles of the same typr and weight to be registered at one time is not less than 50. Particulars of this facility can be ascertained from the nearest principal post office. The facility of pre-payment of postage in cash is also available at selected Gazetted and H.s.G. Post Offices to Firms or business establishments who post not less than 500 articles at a time in respect of letters (closed covers). Inland Letter Cards, Post Cards and un-registered parcels.

(2)

A similar procedure is extended in the case of registered newspapers, details of which will be found in clause 143.

(3)

The facility of prepayment of postage charges in cash is not available for any other classes of postal articles.

13.Spoilt or defaced stamps. – (1) Postage stamps (whether adhesive, embossed, or impressed) which have been obliterated, defaced, torn, cut or otherwise rendered imperfect, or which have any work, letter, figure, or design written printed or impressed upon them otherwise than by the authority of the Central Government or which have been cut or otherwise separated from embossed envelopes, postcards, or wrapper, cannot be recognized in payment of postage. The special registration envelopes provided by the Post Office, cannot be used for the transmission of unregistered postal articles.

NOTE – The perforation of postage stamps with initials, or other identifying marks traced in minute holes is not prohibited, provided they do not render the indications regarding the country of origin and value of stamps illegible.

(2) The using for the payment of postage or postal fees, with intent to cause loss to the Central Government, of a stamp that has already been used for that or any other purpose, is an offence under the Indian Penal Code.

14. Fictitious Stamps . – The manufacture and use of fictitious postage stamps for any purpose whatsoever is prohibited, and is an offence punishable under Section 263-A of the Indian Penal Code. Reproduction of stamps is, however, allowed for illustration purposes in a philatelic publication or in an article or section relating wholly to postage stamps which may appear in a publication or a general character. Such productions, however, must only be in black.

GENERAL RULES AS TO POSTING

15. Packing. – (1) Every letter, packet or parcel has to be stamped with the date stamps of at least two post offices and is liable to a great deal of pressure and friction in the mail bags during transit. All articles, therefore, which are likely to suffer from stampling of pressure should be packed in strong covers. The post office cannot take any special precautions to secure the safety of fragile articles. When wax-cloth is used for the protection of a parcel, packet or letter, it should be used as an inside cover, or there should at least be sufficient strong paper securely fastened outside the wax-cloth to receive the impression of the post office date-stamps, and any postage stamps which have to be affixed to the article.

(2) Special rules regarding the packing of particular classes of articles are given in the clauses relating to those articles. These rules are absolute rules, for the breach of which a penalty is prescribed in each case. However, every letter, packet or parcel should be closed in such a manner that it does not give rise to sharp edges which may expose officials to injury, damage correspondence or hinder postal operations.

1. Sealing -The public are advised not to use sealing wax for seals outside unregistered letters and packets, except when such seals are necessary for the protection of the articles to which they are applied. When sealing wax is used for seals outside unregistered letters and packets, a piece of tissue or other thin paper should be laid on the wax before the seal is applied, as otherwise both the articles themselves and those with which they come in contract in transit are liable to injury from the sealing wax adhering to other articles. The precaution recommended is specially necessary in the case of articles for foreign countries, which have for several days to pass through very hot climates.
2. Posting of coints etc. – Coin, bullion, precious stones, jewellery, articles of gold or silver and currency or Bank Notes, can be sent by the Inland Post, only insured. By sending articles of value in unregistered letters or unregistered parcels, the senders not only ran the risk of losing their property but also expose to temptation every person through whose hands the articles
3. Letter Boxes – Letters, postcards, inland letter cards & packets may be posted in the letter-boxes in the post offices / mail offices, installed in public places, in mobile post offices and steamers provided the postage due and late-fee prescribed for the purposes are fully prepaid. Machine franked articles should not be posted in these letter boxes.’
4. Posting in Special Letter Boxes – Letter Boxes marked ‘For letters only’ should be used for the posting only of letters and postcards. Similarly, the special letter boxes provided in the cities for posting of Air Mail Articles QMS articles be used only for posting such classes of articles. Other articles if posted in such special letter-boxes, are liable to detention. QMS articles should bear full PIN below the name of the town of destination.
5. Presentation of large official and other letters in bulk at the window of the van or Post Office -Large official or other letters, which owing to their size, cannot be posted in the letter-boxes, may be received by hand at the window of the van or post office. There is also no objection to receiving at the window of the van or office, letters or packets posted in bulk provided, the postage and the late fee, if any, are fully prepaid.
6. Articles requiring special treatment. – (1) Letters or other articles intended to be registered or insured, articles intended to be sent as “value-payable”, or with regard to which “certificates of posting” are required, must be presented at the post office at least half an hour before the time fixed for the closing of any particular mail, if it is intended that they should be forwarded by that mail. Such articles should be clearly marked at “Registered” “insured for Rs ___” “value-payable for Rs ……..” etc. at the top of the address side of the cover;

pass.

EXPLANATION :

In this rule, the expression “articles of gold or silver” includes articles made wholly or partly of gold or silver, but not coins and electro or other plated goods. The expression “Com” does not include cut counterfeit coins remitted on behalf of the Currency Departments and Mints. The expression “Currency Notes” does not include defaced notes (i.e. notes from which the signature has been cut off after cancellation), remitted on behalf of the Currency Department. The expression “jewellery” includes watches the cases of which are entirely or mainly composed of gold, silver or platinum.

(2) Air Mail articles bearing high value adhesive postage stamps may be presented at the counters of Post Offices or Mail Offices for the stamps to be defaced in the presence of the person presenting the articles before the articles are sent for onward transmission.

1. Desirability of posting early-If articles are posted just at the time the mails are due to be dispatched there is heavy congestion in Post Offices and R.M.S. Offices and there is likelihood of detention and delay. The public are, therefore, advised to post their mails as and when they are ready without waiting for the last clearance of mails from the Post Office and to endeavour to post as early in the day as possible.
2. Manner of affixing postage stamps -Stamps affixed to a letter or packet must be completely adherent to the article itself and not to any part of its contents or any separate label or other device tied or attached to the article. The stamps should be affixed to the right hand top corner of the address side.
3. Non-Postal Stamps charity Stamps, labels, seals, etc. -Labels, stamps, seals or other markings which are not postage stamps but which are likely to be mistaken for postage stamps should not be attached or impressed to the address side of postal article. This prohibition applies equally in cases in which any labels, stamps, or markings are attached or impressed to the address side of a postal article in such a manner that it becomes difficult to decipher the address, or hampers the work of the postal officials in any way. Impressions which are likely to be mistaken for impressions of postal franking machine must also not be made on the address side.
1. Use of the minimum number of postage stamps . – The public are advised to use the minimum number of stamps while prepaying postage charges by using stamps of the appropriate higher denominations. The use of a large number of low-value stamps takes up unnecessary space on the postal articles, leaving less room for the address and other indications. It also, increases the work of the Post Office staff and entails waste of valuable stamp paper and printing charges.
2. METHOD OF ADDRESS
4. Particulars to be furnished – (1) The prompt delivery of a postal article is greatly facilitated if it is addressed in the correct manner. Delay to correspondence and mistakes in

delivery often result from an incorrect or incomplete postal address. The address should, therefore, be complete and definite enough to ensure the easy transmission of the article and its delivery at destination to the addressee without any elaborate enquiry. The public can help the Post Office by keeping the following points in mind while addressing their correspondence:

(a)

The address should be written parallel to the length of the cover and in the lower half and towards the right-hand side of the front of the article, leaving a clear margin at least 3 centimeter at the top for the postage stamps and labels, postmarks and other indications.

(b)

The Post town should be noted in block letter and according to the approved spelling in the List of Post Offices (Part III of this Guide). It should, also be underlined. The PIN Code of the post town should be noted below.

(c)

The following particulars should generally be furnished in the address and in the same order as noted below :

(d)

It is particularly important to note the District in cases where there is more than one Post town bearing the same name and if PIN is not noted. If the name of the district is

the same as that of the Post town, the name of the State should be noted. Indications of route like ‘via’ should not be given.

(e)

In the case of articles addressed to foreign countries, the address should be written in Roman letters and in Arabic figures.

(f)

It is desirable to note the sender’s address preferable in the lower left-hand corner on the address side or failing that on the reverse of the article. There should be an indication from to obviate its being mistaken for the addressee’s particulars.

(g)

In the case of articles entitled to concessional rates of postage or to be transmitted free of postage, the class of the articles, e.g., ‘Book-Post’, ‘Blind Literature’ should be clearly noted on the top of the address side of the article. The indication ‘Letter’ should be given on the address-side of bulky letter packets, which, on account of their size or make up, might be mistaken for other classes of packets.

(h)

The President, Prime Minister and other Ministers of the Government of India and certain High government Officers are allowed the facility of delivery of their mails to them wherever they may happen to be on tour within India. A list of the high officers entitled to this privilege will be found in Clause 206. Articles intended for delivery in camp to such officers should not be addressed to any Post Town but only to their camp as indicated in Clause 206.

(2)

A few examples of correct and complete addresses are given below :

In the ca	areas se of articles for delivery in the urban	In the case of articles for delivery in the rural areas
(i)	Name of addressee	(i) Name of addressee
(ii) (iii) (iv)	Profession, if any Number and/or name of the House, and name of the street or Road.	(ii)Father’s or husbands’ name (iii) Profession, if any
(v) (vi)	Name of the locality or Mohall	(iv) No. of house, if any along with the name of street if any.
(v)	Post Box No., if any.	(v) Name of the village and Thana Firka, Hobli, etc.
(vi)	Name of the Post Town and Pin-Code	(vi) Name of the Post Office of delivery and the PIN-Code.
(vii)	Name of the District and State Pin-Code	(vii) Name of the Taluk or Tahsil. This is not necessary if correct PIN is written.
		(viii) Name of the District and State This is not necessary if correct PIN is written.

(1)

ABC, (2) Lakshmi, Engineer, Wife of Chikka Ramudu Dhobi, Mandir Marg, Bukkapatnam Village, Gole Market, BUKKAPATNAM – 515144 New Delhi-110001. Pennukonda Taluq

Anantpur District.

(3)

Govindaswamy, (4) Private Secretary to the Prime Minister of Son of Kumaraswamy, India, Head Gangman Prime Minister’s Camp Quarter No. T/23 Kurumalai R.S., S.R., Idaiseval P.O., Nallatinaputhur-627716. (Tirunelveli District) Tamil Nadu.

27.Mails for Defence Services Personnel serving in the Army and Air Force – The following particulars should always be furnished in the address in the case of mails for the

personnel of the Defence Services serving in the Army and Air Force, which are to be delivered through Army Post Offices:

No.

Rank

Name

Unit Such mails should be addressed to 56 A.P.O., 99 A.P.O, etc. without the addition of any post town.

28. Mails for Navy Personnel serving in INS Ships – Mail for Navy Personnel on board

I.N.S. ships should be addressed c/o the Fleet Mail Office, Bombay. The No., rank and other particulars of the addressee, as well as the name of the ship, should be indicated.

29. Articles bearing indefinite addresses – (1) No article will be delivered by the Post Office unless it bears a definite address. Articles addressed in a general way, i.e., address to a class of persons in contradiction to a particular person or firm and articles addressed to initials or figures or to clearly fictitious names, or to a Christian name without a surname, are regarded as not bearing a definite address unless they are to the care of some definite person or firm, or unless the address specifies some definite place or delivery such as a particular house or a particular post box or a particular No. in a street. Articles addressed in a general way or to initials figures. Christian names without surnames, fictitious names or conventional marks of any kind will not be delivered if addressed merely to a post office or “Poste Restante” or to the care of a postmaster.

(2) The following are examples of definite and indefinite addresses :

Definite and therefore Deliverable Indefinite and therefore undeliverable

(a)

The Chief Secretary to the Govt. of H.P. Ellerelie Simla

(b)

The Occupant No. 10 Park Street, Calcutta700016.

(c)

The President of the Officers’ Mess, Mathura.

(This would be a definite address as there is only one Officers’ Mess at Mathura).

(d)

E-97 Pioneer Press, Lucknow.

(e)

Invester No. 2 Victoria Gardens, Bombay400027.

(a)

Chief Secretary, Shimla

(b)

The non-commissioned Officer Meerut.

(c)

The President of the Officer’s Mess Delhi.

(This address would be indefinite as Delhi has several Officer’s Messes).

(d)

The Station Master Lalpur, C.R.

(This address could be definite because the Post office of destination is not given).

(3) Parcels or other articles tendered at a post office for transmission under the Registration, Insurance, or Value-payable system, as also Money Order, will not be accepted unless they are definitely addressed to a particular person or firm. Such articles addressed to a particular person or firm care of post box and the name of the office where post box stands registered will also be accepted provided they are addressed to persons or firms in whose names the post box stands registered. In the office of delivery if it is found that there is no post box in the name of the addressee or the addressee has ceased to be a renter of a post box the article will be returned to the sender.

1. Addition of sender’s address. – Every article should bear on the bottom lower left hand corner the name and address of the sender including PIN in order that the post office may be able in case of non-delivery, to return it unopened and without delay. This is specially desirable in the case of registered articles (whether letters or parcels) and unregistered parcels. A large number of undelivered articles is destroyed every year at the various Returned Letter Offices, because they contain no clue, outside or inside to the whereabouts of the senders. It is also suggested that in the case of photographs sent by packet post the name and address of the sender should always be written on the back of the photograph.
2. Intimation of address to correspondents abroad. – The public are advised when furnishing their address to correspondents abroad, to mention the name of State in India in which they reside.

Certificate of Posting

1. Object in issuing Certificates. – The object in granting certificates of posting is to afford the public an assurance that letters and other articles entrusted to servants or messengers for posting have actually been posted. The grant of a certificate will not, however, mean that the letters and articles in respect of which the certificate is issued were fully prepaid with postage stamps, nor will it guarantee in any way the dispatch of the articles entered in the certificate on the same day, unless they are handed over well in time to catch the last dispatch of mails for the day for the particular destination concerned. It must be clearly understood that the articles in respect of which such certificates are issued are not registered and that they are treated in exactly the same manner as if they had been posted in a letter box. In the event of loss, damage or delay, the certificates will confer no claim for compensation, nor do they furnish any proof of the nature of the contents.
1. Manner of obtaining.- (1) A certificate of posting may be obtained in respect of any Postal article for which a receipt is not given by the post office subject to the following conditions, namely :
1. the certificate of posting written in ink must be presented to an officer on duty at the post office along with the articles to be posted, during the hours fixed for the grant of such certificates;
1. the certificate must contain an exact copy of the addresses on the articles to which it relates and must have a postage stamp, or stamps affixed thereto in payment of the prescribed fee.
2. Explanation – Impression of a licensed franking machine will be accepted.
2. the actual number of articles in respect of which the certificate is required must be written in words at the foot of the certificate. No more than three articles should be entered in a single certificate and each certificate should be presented along with the articles entered in it.

(2) The officer on duty will, after satisfying himself, obliterate the stamp(s) and impress the date stamp impressing against each entry made in the certificate of posting in the space provided for the purpose, indicate the time and date of posting and return the certificate to the persons presenting it. No form, which contains any over-writing, alteration or correction in the total number of articles, will however, be accepted by the Post Office.

NOTE 1 – Certificate of Posting can be, obtained on plain paper which should contain the entries (s) of the article and must have stamps affixed thereon as prescribed.

NOTE 2 – Certificates of postings are not granted in respect of letters posted in train and steamer letter boxes and for redirected articles.

REDELIVERY TO THE SENDER OR ALTERATION OR CORRECTION OF ADDRESS OF POSTAL ARTICLES IN THE COURSE OF TRANSMISSION BY POST

34. (1) Subject to the provisions of this clause the sender of a postal article posted in India may have it withdrawn from the post, or have its address altered, so long as the article –

(a)

has not been delivered to the addressee;

(b)

has not been confiscated or destroyed by the competent authorities of the country in which the article may be for the time being;

(c)

has not been seized by virtue of any law of the country of destination.

(2)

No postal article shall be recalled nor shall the address thereon be altered under this clause except under and in accordance with the orders of the Central Government, the Director-General, Postmaster-General or such other authority as may be authorized by the Central Government in this behalf i.e. the first class Postmaster, if the article was posted in his office or the superintendent of Post Offices of the area.

(3)

An application for the recall or alteration of address of a postal article under this clause shall be made by the sender or by any person authorized by him in writing in this behalf to any of the authorities referred to in Sub-rule(2) either directly or through any officer in-charge of a post office :

Provided that application shall be entertained under this sub-rule in respect of a postal article addressed to a foreign country unless such article is addressed to a country notified in this behalf by the Director-General in the Post Office Guide:

Provided further that every such application shall be accompanied by a statement (which may be enclosed in a sealed cover) indicating the reasons why redelivery is sought. The sealed cover shall be opened only by the authority authorized to issue the order of redelivery or where such authority is the Central Government, by the Secretary to the Central Government;

(4)

An application made under Sub-Clause (3) shall be accompanied by the prescribed fee in the shape of postage stamps affixed to the application where the application is in respect of several postal articles, posted at the same time, at the same office, by the same sender, to the same addressee, the article so posted be treated as a single article for calculating the fee. The fees paid under the sub-clause shall, in no circumstances, be refunded.

(5)

Where the application is in respect of an insured or registered article, it shall also be accompanied by a copy of the original receipt granted by the post office.

(6)

An application made under Sub-clause (3) may contain a request that any communication that may have to be addressed to offices in India or foreign countries for recalling the postal article or altering the address thereon may be transmitted by air mail or by telegraph and in such a case, the sender shall be liable to pay the amount of air mail or telegraph charges payable on such communications. A postal article shall be returned to its origin by air following a request for withdrawal from the post when the sender undertakes to pay the necessary air surcharge. When a postal article is redirected by air following a request for alteration of address, the necessary air surcharge shall be collected from the addressee and shall remain the property of the delivering administration.

(7)

The Central Government shall not incur any liability by reason of misdelivery of any postal article contrary to an application made under this clause.

(8)

Nothing in this clause shall preclude a sender of a postal article from making a request for a simple correction of the address (not involving alteration of the name or status of the addressee) direct to the office of destination of the article.

DELIVERY

1. Definition. – The delivery of a postal article at the house or office of the addressee or to addressee or his servant or agent or other person considered to be authorized to receive the article according to the usual manner of delivering postal articles to the addressee is deemed to be delivered to the addressee under the Post Office Act.
2. Delivery of registered articles – No registered articles of any kind will be delivered to the addressee unless and until he or his agent authorized in writing has signed a receipt for it, in the prescribed form which will be presented to him for signature by the postman who delivers the registered article.
3. Refusal of registered articles presented for delivery – If the addressee, while refusing to take delivery on presentation of the registered article to him, makes an application in writing to the post office of delivery for the detention of the article or if the addressee is not found at the address given on the article, the article shall be detained in the post office for a period not exceeding 7 days from the date of its presentation to the addressee or from the date it is last sent out for delivery as the case may be. If the addressee fails to take delivery of the article from the post office within the said period of seven days, the article will be returned to the office of posting for delivery to the sender. The remark ‘Refused’ will be recorded on the article if the addressee fails to take delivery after requesting for detention.

NOTE -The expression ‘office of posting’ means the delivery post office which serves the address of the sender.

1. Special procedure for delivering registered articles to firms etc. – Registered articles for delivery to Firms, etc., which normally receive a large number of registered articles, are entered in a special list in duplicate which is presented along with the articles acknowledgement forms etc., to the addressee who will be required to sign the upper copy in token of receipt of the lower copy of the list along with all the articles and return the signed acknowledgements. No individual receipts will be prepared for the articles entered in the special list. Articles on which any charges are to be recovered will not be entered in the special list.
2. Delivery of registered articles addressed to pardanashin women -When the addressee of a registered or an insured article is a pardanashin woman who has not an agent appointed in writing to take delivery of such article on her behalf her signature (or mark, if she is illiterate) will have to be attested by a respectable witness (ordinarily a relative known as such to the postman), and the article will be delivered to the witness. When the witness is not personally known to the postman, he or she must before taking delivery of the article, be identified and the person who identifies him (or her) will be required to sign the receipt and acknowledgement as a witness to the delivery of the article.
3. Delivery of damaged registered article of the letter and parcel mail. – When a registered articles of the letter mail or a parcel is received in the office of delivery in a damaged condition, a notice will be sent by the postmaster of that office to the addressee requesting him to attend the post office within seven days in the case of inland articles and fifteen days in the case of foreign article to take delivery of it either personally or through an agent. This notice will have to be produced at the Post Office before delivery is effected and if presented by an agent his name should be entered on the form before it leaves the addressee’s custody.
1. Delivery of parcels and period of their detention at the office of delivery – (1) A parcel which does not exceed 10 Kg. in weight (except Value-payable parcel and those addressed to Poste Restante) will be issued for delivery only once and if it cannot be delivered through any cause on first presentation by the postman it will be brought back to the post office and will not be issued again for delivery. A notice of arrival of the parcel will, however, be issued at the next delivery through the postman to the addressee for taking delivery of the parcel either personally or by an agent or messenger authorized for the purpose. A parcel weighing above 10 kilograms in weight will be delivered only at the post office window. A similar notice will be issued to the addressees in such a case also. Should the addressee or his authorized agent fail to take delivery of the parcel at the post office within seven days from the date of presentation of the notice, the
2. parcel will, on the expiry of that period, be treated as “Unclaimed” and disposed of according to the rules of the Department.
4. Delivery of insured articles. – An article insured for any sum not exceeding Rs. 500 will be delivered in the ordinary manner. An article insured for more than Rs. 500 will be delivered only at the Post Office window, intimation of arrival being sent by the post office to the addressee. The addressee of an insured article or his agent, authorized in writing, must sign in ink both the receipt and acknowledgement relating thereto unless the outward appearance of the cover gives rise to suspicion of tampering. In such cases he should arrange to open the article at the post office, in the presence of the postmaster, and to have its contents entered in an inventory which will be prepared in duplicate and must be signed by the addressee. One copy of the signed inventory will be forwarded by the post office to the sender with unsigned acknowledgement attached to it. In case, the addressee or his agent is not known to the staff of the post office from which the insured article is to be delivered, the identification of the addressee or his agent by a person known to the post office staff or production of evidence which will establish his identity to the satisfaction of the Postmaster will be necessary if so required by the delivering post office official.
5. Delivery of V.P. articles. – (1) If the amount to be recovered on a value payable article exceeds Rs. 100 an intimation of its arrival will be sent by the office of destination to the addressee. Such article will be delivered at the post office on payment of the amount entered in the form or receipt on the reverse of the intimation in cash and on presentation at the post office of the intimation with the receipt on the reverse duly signed.

NOTE 1 :	When an insured article issued for delivery is not accepted by the addressee it will not be sent out a
	second time; an intimation of its arrival will be made over to him and the article will be delivered at the
	post office on presentation of the intimation with the receipt and acknowledgement duly signed. If the
	addressee of an insured article after an intimation of its arrival has been delivered, omits to take
	delivery of the article within the time specified in the intimation it will be returned to the sender as
	refused.
NOTE 2 :	When the receipt and acknowledgement duly signed together with the intimation are presented by the
	addressee or his agent to the Post Office, he must place his signature on the intimation in the presence
	of the delivery assistant of the post office and surrender the intimation to the post office if delivery is
	taken.

(2)

If the amount to be recovered on a value-payable article does not exceed Rs. 100, the article will be delivered to the addressee or his agent authorized in writing by the postman at the addressee’s residence on payment of the amount recoverable and on the addressee or his agent authorized in writing signing the receipt on the reverse of the intimation presented with the article.

(3)

If the amount to be recovered on a value-payable article exceeds Rs.25 and the delivery is to be made through a village postman or an extra-departmental delivery agent then the article is delivered at the post office only in the manner prescribed in sub-clause (1).

(4)

If the amount to be recovered on a value-payable article be not below Rs. 20 and the article is taken delivery of at the counter of the post office, the amount may be paid either in cash or by cheque under the conditions indicated in clause 94(a).

1. Delivery of articles on which Customs duty is due -Articles on which customs duty to be recovered is in excess of Rs. 50 are ordinarily delivered at the post office window, except in the case of Presidency and all the post office window, except in the case of Presidency and all First Class head Offices where this limit is fixed at Rs. 100. Such duty may be paid either in cash or by cheque, the latter under the conditions laid down in clause 94.
2. Delivery fee. – Small packets received from foreign countries are charged on delivery, a delivery fee at the rate as given in Part II of the P.O. Guide.
3. Arrangements for delivery of over-value articles at no-delivery town post offices. – For the convenience of the public, who are required to call at the Post Office for taking delivery of over-value insured or V.P. articles, as indicated in Clauses 42 and 43 Superintendents of Post Offices are authorized to empower no-delivery town post offices to deliver such articles at the window, even through they do not perform any delivery work. An indication regarding such offices will be found in the list of Post Offices in Pat III of this Guide.
4. Payment of Money Orders -(1) The payment of a money order will ordinarily be made at the address of the payee on his signing the money order and acknowledgement and returning them to the postman. The coupon should be retained by the payee.

(2)

If the money order is payable to a person who is not permanently residing within the jurisdiction of the office of payment or personally not known to the postmaster or any of his subordinates, the money order will be paid only on satisfactory proof of the identity of the claimant with the person named in the money order.

(3)

Special arrangements are available at important post offices for the payment of money orders by cheque or postal pay order or by book adjustment in the case of firms, business houses, Government offices, etc., which receive a large number of Money orders or where the amount of money orders payable to a single person exceeds Rs. 100.

NOTE : A payee cannot have payment of money orders both by cheque and by postal pay order.

(4)

A money order exceeding Rs. 500 is not normally paid by the Village Postman and the payment of such money order will be made at the window of the post office for which intimation will be sent through the Village Postman.

NOTE : In certain cases money orders up to Rupees 2000 are paid by the village Postman.

1. Duties of postmen and other delivery agents. -Postmen and other delivery agents are forbidden to deliver any article on which any sum of money is due to the Post Office, whether on account of postage, customs duty, or on any other account without receiving immediate payment of the amount due, or to delivery any registered or insured letter or parcel without obtaining the signature of the addressee or his agent on the receipt and acknowledgement. They are also forbidden to deviate from their prescribed beats, and cannot, therefore, be required to call again to receive payment of sums due. They are not bound to give change.
2. Delivery of articles at Post Office without a delivery agent. – In the case of small post offices in the rural areas where a separate postman or a delivery agent is not attached to the post office the postmaster will make arrangements to deliver the unregistered article on his responsibility and deliver the registered articles and insured articles, and pay money orders at the post office by sending for the addressees and payees.
3. Refusal of articles. – The addressee of an article is not bound to pay the amount due on it to the Post Office if he does not want to take delivery of it. In this case the word “Refused” will be written by the Postman across the cover.
4. Obligation to pay charges. -When a person takes delivery of an article on which any sum is due to the Post Office, he must pay the amount marked upon it. Any complaint of overcharge should be made to the postmaster of the office of delivery to whom the article should be taken before being opened.
5. Remedy of post office for recovery of charges due. - If a person, after taking delivery of an article on which any postage or other sum or customs duty is payable, refuses to pay the amount marked as due, it will be recovered from him in the same way as a fine imposed under the Post Office Act and the Post Office has further the power of withholding from him until such charge be paid or recovered, any article addressed, to him not being on India Government Service.
6. Articles maliciously sent unpaid. – If the Head of a Circle is satisfied that any article has been maliciously sent for the purpose of annoying the person to whom it is addressed, he may remit the amount of postage charged upon it. Superintendents of post offices and first Class Postmasters may remit the amount of postage in such cases if it does not exceed Rs. 10.
1. Correspondence for Defence Services Personnel. -Articles addressed to the officers and other ranks of Defence Services units and formations will be delivered to an orderly or other fit person deputed by the Officer Commanding the unit or formation to receive them. Articles on which postage due will be returned to senders as undeliverable. Postage due on Inland Letters Cards called “Forces Letter” and “Green Envelopes” is prepaid under special arrangements. No recovery will be made at the time of delivery from the addressees of ‘Forces Letters’ and ‘Green Envelopes’ which bear the date stamp of an Army Post Office (but see Clause 62).
2. NOTE : This concession will not be extended in the case of a unit formation consisting merely of an office, e.g., the M.E.S.
1. Post Boxes. – Post Boxes are available on rent at certain Post offices as may be determined in this behalf by the Head of Circle under the following conditions:
1. (a) Only fully prepaid unregistered articles of the letter mail, namely letters, inland letter cards, postcards, aerogrammes, registered newspapers, books, of the post bearing the Post Box No. are delivered through post box. Articles addressed to other person or firms c/o Post Box Nos. are not delivered through the post box except in the following cases:
2. articles addressed to legitimate personnel of a firm renting a post box;
3. articles addressed to family members and guests of the renter;

(iii) articles addressed towards, trainees or inmates of an institution controlled by a recognized and known authority ;

(iv) articles addressed to casual visitors and commercial representatives staying with the renter.

(b)

The renter if he so desires, can get delivery of the postal articles addressed to other allied concerns of which he happens to be the proprietor or agent through the same post box on payment of a separate fee in respect of each such concern and subject otherwise to the same terms and conditions, as are applicable to delivery of the postal articles addressed to the renter with the Post Box No.

(c)

Registered, insured, V.P. articles as also money orders addressed payable to the particular person or firm in whose name the post box stands registered will be delivered/paid through the postman, so long the person/firm rents the Post Box. If it is found that there is no Post Box in the name of the addressee/payee, or the addressee, has ceased to be a renter of the Post Box, the article will be returned to the sender/remitter.

(2)

Any person (including a firm or other body) who desires to avail himself of the facility of having his mail delivered through a post box (hereinafter referred to as ‘the renter’) should submit an application in writing in the form prescribed for the purpose to the Postmaster concerned.

(3)

The applicant should speficifically state in the application the exact nature of the business which should be duly certified by two respectable gentlemen not connected with him in any way and furnish full particulars of his business address. This will not be insisted upon in case of Government and semi-Government institutions and such private parties as are either known to the Postmaster or have otherwise established their identity to the satisfaction of the Postmaster.

The Post Office reserves the right to withdraw the post box without notice or without any reason being assigned, if any information furnished by the applicant is found to be incorrect, or if it is found that the Post Box is being misused by the renter.

(4)

In the event of renter of a post box changing his business address or shifting his office to another place, he should invariably inform the Postmaster of the change within seven days of such change. In the event of his failure to do so or of his furnishing wrong information in this regard the post box is liable to be withdrawn without notice or without any reason being assigned.

(5)

No renter is entitled to demand that a post box of any particular number or a post box in any particular row or position should be allotted to him.

(6)

(i) The prescribed rent is to be paid in advance along with the application for renting a post box or for renewal thereof.

(ii)

No renter is entitled to claim a refund of the whole or any part of the rent paid by him in respect of the allotment of a post box. If any claim in writing for such refund reaches the Postmaster before he makes such allotment, he may admit such claim in whole or in part.

(iii) where rent is paid in respect of any post box, it cannot be adjusted in whole or in part against the rent or deposit due in respect of any other post box.

(7)

(i) The prescribed deposit is to be paid on the allotment of a post box and before the key of the box is made over to the renter and except in the cases referred to in items (iii), (iv) and (v) of this condition is payable only at the time a post box is rented for the first time.

(ii)

A deposit in respect of a post box cannot be adjusted in whole or in part against the deposit or the rent due in respect of any other post box.

(iii) If at any time during the period of rental, the key of the lock or lock is lost by the renter, or the key or the lock or both are not in working condition, it will be obligatory on the part of the renter to bring the matter immediately to the notice of the postmaster and to credit the cost of both the lock and key in case both the lock and key or only the lock is lost or damaged or the cost of the key only in case the key is lost or damaged, failing which the deposit made by him shall be forfeited. On the crediting of the cost by the renter, he shall be supplied with a new lock and key or key as the case may be, by the Postmaster. In addition to the cost of the key or both the lock and key, as the case may be, the renter will have to pay postage charges, if any, and the money order commission charges for remittance to the amount representing the cost of the key or both the lock and key, as the case may be, the renter will have to pay postage charges, if any, and the money order commission charges for remittance to the amount representing the cost of the key or both the lock and key to the suppliers, if the supplying firm or a branch thereof is not at the same station.

NOTE 1 : Failure to intimate the loss or damage will entail cancellation of the allotment of the post box.

NOTE 2 : In case of loss of or damage to the key, the renter, as a security measure, may, if he so desires, deposit the cost of both the lock and key, in which case a new lock and key will be supplied to him.

(iv)

If the lock and key are not surrendered by the renter to the Postmaster within 15 days of the expiry of the period of rent or the renting of the box is not renewed within the aforesaid period, the deposit will be forfeited.

(v)

If the renter does not notify to the Postmaster his intention not to renew the rental of the

Post Box, before the expiry of the rental period but surrenders to him the lock and the key within fifteen days of such expiry he may e granted a refund of the portion of the deposit representing the cost of the lock and key.

(8)

No application for the renewal of the rental of a post box is entertained unless it reaches the Postmaster concerned before the expiry of the period for which rent has already been paid in advance; provided that an application received within 15 days after the expiry of the period accompanied the amount representing the rental for a further period may be entertained if the applicant satisfies the Postmaster that he had sufficient cause of not making the application before the expiry of the said period or that the application reached the Postmaster late on account of circumstances beyond his control; provided the particular Post Box is still available to be allotted to him. If not available, his application will be considered as a fresh one for allotment of any Post Box that may be available at the time.

(9)

The period of rental of a post box commences from the first day of month in which the post box is allotted and the period of renewal of rental commences from the first day of the month immediately succeeding the period of previous rental.

(10)

When the Postmaster allots a post box to a renter, the latter is supplied with a delivery ticket which will be produced by him or his messenger on demand. The ticket bears the same number as that allotted to the post box and is not transferable.

(11)

It is open to the renter to clear his post box at any time during the business hours of the post office provided that the Postmaster may prohibit the clearance of the post box for any period not exceeding half an hour before each delivery for the purpose of facilitating the sorting of mails.

(12)

For ensuring correct delivery the renter should arrange –

(a)

that all letters for delivery through, the post box are addressed to him in the following manner, the full postal address also appearing as far as possible :

A. B. C. Renter

Post Box No………………….

Post office of Delivery…………………..

Postal Index Number (PIN) ……………………

(b) that he has a postal address in the delivery zone of the particular post office where he has rented a post box.

NOTE :-In towns where there is more than one delivery office and the Post Box facilities are not available in all delivery office Post Box may be rented in any post office where such facilities may be available irrespective of the consideration of the delivery jurisdiction. If and when Post Box facilities are provided subsequently at other offices the holders of Post Box facilities will have the option to shift the Post Box facilities provided in their own delivery jurisdiction.

(13)

The renter will not have any right to get delivery through the post box of any article addressed to him without the Post Box No.

(14)

(i) Where any postal article addressed to a post box number cannot, in view of its size or for want of space in the box, be placed therein, the Postmaster will arrange an intimation slip to this effect to be placed in the post box and the article will be kept in the delivery department.

(ii) On the renter or his messenger presenting the intimation slip together with the delivery ticket, the article may be handed over to him.

(15)

When a renter is unable to clear his post box on account of the loss of the key or otherwise, postal articles addressed to the post box will be delivered to him or his messenger at the counter only during the hours prescribed for window delivery on the presentation of the delivery ticket, provided the allotment of the post box has not been cancelled under Note 1 of condition (7).

(16)

If the renter of a post box does not clear it for a week, a notice requiring him to clear it for a week, a notice requiring him to clear it, will be sent by the Postmaster by registered post; and when the articles are not cleared even after this notice, they will be delivered through the postman if the postal articles bear the address of the renter or he has given instructions to this effect. If for any reasons the articles cannot be delivered through the postman in the normal manner, they will be treated as undeliverable and disposed of in the manner prescribed for such articles.

NOTE : Failure to clear the Post Box, necessitating the issue of registered notices too often or requiring the Post Office too often to redirect the articles addressed to the Post Box, will amount to misuse of the Post Box within the meaning of sub-clause (4).

(17)

When a post box is no longer required by a renter, he is required to surrender the lock and key to the Postmaster and the latter thereafter will arrange to refund to him the deposit or such portion of it as may be admissible under item (iv) or (v) of condition (7). No refund will be granted if the lock and key at the time of surrender are not in working conditions.

(18)

The post box holders who receive a large quantity of mail which cannot be conveniently put into the post box may rent an additional post box on the same terms and conditions but with the same post box number so that the entire mail may be placed

inside post box instead of keeping a portion of the mail under or above or away from the Post Box cabinet.

56. Post Bags. – (1) The system of delivery of Postal articles in a bag, which along with a lock and duplicate key is to be supplied by the renter, is available at all delivery post offices, whether post box system is available there or not.

(2) The foregoing provisions relating to the renting of post boxes apply mutates mutandis to the renting of post bags also except in the following respects :

(a)

locked post bags with the postal articles placed inside the bag is handed over to the renter or his messenger over the counter on the production of the delivery ticket during the hours prescribed for making window delivery ;

(b)

these bags with the exception of those rental in combination with post box same number may be used by the renter for dispatching to the post office fully prepaid unregistered letters, postcards, inland letter cards, newspapers and packets for posting.

57. Window Delivery – Except where the post box system is in force, any person residing within the ordinary beat of the postmen can have all letters and other postal articles received to his address delivered to him regularly, during business hours at the window of a post office, free of any charge on this account provided that the articles are taken over loose and that the addressee makes a written application to the post office asking that his letter and other articles may be retained in the Post Office till called for, instead of being sent out in the ordinary course through the postman.

58. Delivery of articles to messengers sent from places not served daily by postmen. –

(1)

Any person residing at a place which is not served daily by the postmen, who sends his own messengers regularly to the post office to take delivery of correspondence received to his address or to the address of members of his family can have his letters and other unregistered articles delivered to the messengers who must pay the postage due on the unpaid articles unless the addressee deposits money in advance to pay the postage, in which case an account will be kept with him and adjusted at regular intervals.

(2)

Registered and insured articles will be delivered and money orders paid to the messenger only on the conditions aid down in clause 60. Value-payable articles will be delivered only in accordance with the provisions of clause 43.

(3)

The Post Office will, if desired, provide, at the addressee’s expenses, a bag furnished with a lock in which all articles, cash receipts, acknowledgement, notices and coupons to be conveyed by the messenger will be placed by the post office together with a memo. of the contents. One key of the bag will be kept by the postmaster and the other by the addressee. The same bag may be used for the conveyance by the messenger to the post office of articles to be posted but no cash for

any purpose whatsoever may be conveyed in the bag to the post office. No fee will be charged for the use of this bag.

1. Payment of money orders to messenger sent from places not served daily by postmen. – Any person residing at a place which is not served daily by the postmen, who sends his own messengers at regular intervals to the post office to take delivery of correspondence received to his address (see clauses 58 and 60) may authorize the postmaster, in written, to pay money orders to the messenger, and the postmaster will accept the signature on the money orders of the messenger named in the written authority so given, and pay him the amount.
2. Delivery of registered articles, etc. to messengers or to care party – (1) If the addressee specially authorizes the postmaster to do in writing (in the following form), the postmaster will also deliver to the messenger all registered and insured articles and pay him the value of all money orders (see clause 59) which may arrive for the addressee or his family; provided that no value-payable articles will be delivered otherwise than as prescribed in clause 43.

“ I authorize the Postmaster of ………. to deliver registered and insured articles, parcels and money orders addressed to me to my messenger (A or B or C) and on the Postmaster delivering such articles and paying such money orders to any one of the messengers named above and obtaining the latter’s receipt, I free the Post Office from all responsibility in respect of such articles and money orders.”

(2)

If the addressee does not authorize his messenger to sign on his behalf, the receipts and acknowledgements in the case of registered and insured articles and notices with acknowledgements and coupons in the case of money orders will be handed under receipt to the messenger for delivery to the addressee. When the receipts and acknowledgement are returned to the post office duly signed, and the notices endorsed with receipts of payments, the articles and the amounts of the money orders will be made over the messenger.

(3)

It is not necessary that the authority granted to the postmaster should apply to all classes of articles; it may be restricted to uninsured registered articles, in which case insured articles will be delivered, and money orders paid, only on the return of the receipts, acknowledgements and notices signed by the addressee.

(4)

(i) An article addressed to A B care of a general or shipping agent or care of a Scheduled Bank or its Branches in India will be delivered to the care party if it is not known at the post office that the articles can be at once delivered to the addressee himself.

(ii)

Instructions received from addressee authorizing the post office to deliver articles or pay money orders to persons other than themselves should be treated as lapsed after a time limit of 3 years unless renewed within that time.

61. (i) Delivery of Registered Articles etc. and Payment of Money Orders Addresed or Payable to Students of Educational Institutions. – Registered articles and parcels addressed to students and inmates of educational institutions can with the approval of the Head of the Circle be delivered to the head of the institution or to a person duly authorized by him on the head of the institution giving a general undertaking that he will be responsible for their safe delivery to the actual addressee and will reimburse to the Department any loss to which it may become liable in the event of a complaint from the addressee.

(ii) Insured article and Money Orders addressed/payable to the students can also with the approval of the head of the Circle be delivered/paid to the head of the educational institution on his executing an indemnity bond in the following form on a stamped paper :

AGREEMENT OF INDEMNITY

(General Indemnity Bond to be executed by the Head of an Institution receiving money orders or insured articles addressed to students in his care).

To

The President of India,

I ………………………, the Principal/Headmaster/Head Mistress of the (Name of the Institution) being as I hereby declare the person now having the care and custody of the students of the said ………………… (name of the Institution) to whom money orders and/or insured articles are from time to time addressed for payment and/or delivery of the said money orders and/or insured articles to me on their behalf undertake and agree with you the President of India to indemnify you and all or any officers or officer who may be concerned in the said payment and/or delivery from and against all suits action, proceedings, claims and demands costs damages and expenses which may be brought or made against you the said President of India and/or such officers or officer, as aforesaid or which he or they may pay, sustain or incur by reason or on account of the said payment and /or delivery.

Witnesses Signature Principal/Head Name of the Master/Headmistress Institution

(1)

(2)

(3)

NOTE: A stamp duty will be payable by the person who executes this agreement.

62. Accounts with planters, etc. – (1) In case of planters and others living at a distance from the post office, units of the Defence Services, permit holders of Business Reply Cards and envelopes, firms etc., who are in the habit of receiving unpaid correspondence, the post office will arrange, if desired, for the delivery of articles to their messengers or orderlies or at their offices, without requiring a daily settlement of its claim for the postage due on their unpaid articles, provided that a sufficient sum to pay the postage is deposited in advance by the addressees. In such cases the post office will keep an account with each addressee, adjusting the account at regular intervals, and giving the addressee due notice when the amount deposited by him in advance to cover postage is nearly expended.

(2) Addressees wishing to have air mail correspondence redirected by air are required to deposit in advance in the post office, sums sufficient to cover the air fees. In such cases the addressees should give written instructions as to the nature of the articles which they desire to be redirected by air. The post office will keep an account with each such addressee in accordance with the procedure laid down in the preceding paragraph.

63. Identification Cards. – (1) A system of identity cards has been introduced by the Post Office for the benefit of tourists, traveling representatives of firms and other members of the public who experience difficulty in establishing their identity in connection with postal transactions, e.g., receipt of registered and insured articles and payment of money orders in the post town through which they pass. These cards will be obtainable at any head post office by literate persons whose identity is well established in the locality in which they reside or who can be vouched for by substantial permanent residents known to the postmaster.

NOTE : Applications for issue of identification cards can also be made at Sub-Offices. The Sub-Postmaster will, after making enquiries forward the application to the Head Office for issue of the cards.

(2)

The card will contain a full description of its holder, his signature and photograph and will be current for a period of three years from the date of issue. After the expiry of the period of validity of the card, a fresh card will have to be applied for. The photograph to be affixed to the identity card will have to be supplied by the applicant for the card and must be of the size 88 millimeters by 63 millimeters, or slightly smaller.

(3)

The use of these cards is entirely optional. Holders will ordinarily receive delivery of postal articles and payment of money orders on their presentation but in cases of doubt it will be open to postmasters to make such further enquiry as they may consider necessary to establish the identity of the applicants with the holders of the cards and to demand additional corroborative evidence of such identity.

(4)

In the event of the loss of a card, a duplicate will be issued to the holder on the conditions laid down in sub-clause (2) above besides paying the prescribed fee and on his giving a written declaration absolving the department from all responsibility in the event of the misuse of the original.

POSTE RESTANTE

The Poste Restante is intended solely for the convenience of strangers and travelers and even they may not use the Poste Restante for more than three months.

1. Definition. – All articles superscribed “To be kept till called for”, “To await arrival”, or in any similar way, and also articles addressed “Post Office” are held to fall under the head “Poste
2. Restante”. The addressees of articles falling under the head “Poste Restante” must give the names of the addresses. The use of initials, figures, Christian names without surnames, fictitious names or conventional marks of any kind is not admitted for these articles.
1. Disposal of Poste Restante Articles. – (1) A Poste Restante article (except value-payable) is kept in the post office to which it is addressed for a period not exceeding one month.

(2) A value-payable postal article marked “Poste Restante” is, subject to the proviso to subclause (1) of clause 194, kept in the post office to which it is addressed for a period of seven days only.

EXCEPTION : As soon as it is ascertained that the payee of a telegraphic money order addressed “Post Office” cannot be found a reference is made to the office of issue, and the telegraphic money order, if still undeliverable, then returned without delay by post, free of any further charge, for payment to the remitter.

66. Responsibility of the Post Office. – In cases in which articles are superscribed. “To await arrival”, or “To be kept till called for”, and the address gives no further indications of the intention of the sender, the responsibility of the Post Office is limited to the retaining of such articles in deposit for the prescribed period.

RE-DIRECTION

67. Re-direction. – (1) A postal article which cannot be delivered by the post office, to which it is addressed owing to the addressee being elsewhere may be redirected, free of charge, save as otherwise provided in clause 71 to another post office for delivery to him.

(2) If a postal article or a notice of the arrival has once been tendered to the addressee by the post office, it will not be re-directed to his address elsewhere.

1. Interception and place of re -direction. – A postal article cannot be intercepted and redirected while in transit. It can only be re-directed at the post office to which it is addressed.
1. Conditions of free re-direction. – (1) Save as otherwise provided in clause 71 a postal article redirected to any place served by the inland post by an officer of the Post Office or by an agent of the addressee after its delivery will be transmitted by post free of charge in respect of such further transmission; provided that :
1. in the case of an unregistered article redirected by an agent of the addressee, the article has not been opened and has been either returned to the postman or re-posted at the place of delivery; and
2. in the case of a registered article re-directed by an agent of the addressee, the article has not been opened and has been returned to the postman at the place of delivery with the receipt unsigned.

(2) Where a Postal article is re-directed to any place under sub-clause (1), the Postmaster at such place may, if authorized by a general or special order in this behalf issued by the Head of the Circle require the addressee of the re-directed article to give, at the time of delivery a receipt for such article.

1. Penalty for breach of condition. – A postal article reposted after having been opened or reposted at any place other than the place at which it was delivered, will be treated as a postal article posted for the first time and charged with postage accordingly. A registered article of which delivery has been taken can be re-posted only under the conditions prescribed for the posting of registered articles for the first time, except that subject to the provisions of clause 71 no fresh charge will be made on account of postage if the article has not been opened.
2. Re-direction fee on parcels. – A parcel re-directed to any place served by the inland post will except where the original address and the substituted address are within the delivery area of the same post office or are within the same post town, be chargeable in respect of each redirection with further postage amounting to half the prepaid rate. Such re-direction is not, however, undertaken unless the addressee or his agent gives written instruction in the matter.

NOTE 1 : No re-direction fee will be recovered from the sender where a parcel has been returned as unclaimed or refused for delivery to him within the delivery area of the post office of issue or the same post town. In other cases, a redirection fee amounting to half the prepaid rate is chargeable from the sender in respect of each redirection.

NOTE 2 : No redirection fee will be charged on inland parcels addressed to troops, and such parcels when redirected within India will be transmitted free of any further charge.

72. Instruction regarding change of residence. – (1) Persons changing their address should furnish the post office both at the place which they are leaving and at the place to which they are going with written instructions regarding the disposal of postal articles (including money orders) received to their address. The instruction must be simple and direct, and must state whether they are intended to apply to all postal articles, and whether the postal articles referred to are postal articles addressed to the person giving the instruction only, or also to members of his family of household. Complicated or conditional instructions or anything in nature of a tour programme will not be attended to.

(2) ARTICLES OF THE LETTER MAIL ORIGINALLY POSTED FOR TRANSMISSION BY THE INLAND POST WILL NOT BE REDIRECTED TO PLACES NOT SERVED BY THE INLAND POST – (i) Without express instructions from the addressee in writing to this effect and (ii) unless the conditions required for transmission by the Foreign Post are fulfilled. Persons leaving India are therefore advised to leave their written instructions or to appoint an agent in India to receive any letters or other articles that may arrive for them after departure. Unpaid or insufficiently paid inland packets will not be redirected to foreign countries unless fully prepaid at the rate applicable to such packets for transmission by the Foreign Post.

NOTE : The Indian Post Office is not responsible for any action taken by the country of destination on an inland article received by it in contravention of the regulations of that country.

1. Period for which instructions valid. -Separate written instructions are required for every change of address; and instructions will not ordinarily be attended to for a longer period than three months, unless renewed within that time except in the case of persons leaving India when a longer period may be specified, if desired.
2. TREATMENT OF UNDELIVERABLE ARTICLES
1. Period of detention of undeliverable articles in post offices. – The following rules govern the treatment of undeliverable articles in post offices :
1. Articles, the addresses of which are so illegible or incomplete as to render delivery impossible or whose wrappers get lost or detached, are sent at once to the Returned Letter Office for disposal, except when they are fully prepaid and the name and address of the sender appear on the outside when they are returned to the sender.
2. Articles, the addressees of which are not known or have left the station of address without intimating their fresh address to the post office or are not found at the address given on articles are ordinarily kept in deposit in the head, sub or branch post office to which they are addressed, for a period of seven days after all enquiries to find the addressee have proved unsuccessful. After seven days, articles (including insured articles) which bear clearly o the outside the names and addresses of the senders and on which no postage or other sum is due to be recovered, are returned direct to the senders, while other articles, are forwarded to the Returned Letter Office for disposal. If an article has been redirected to the post office at which it is found to be undeliverable, it is not kept in deposit, after it has been ascertained that the addressee cannot be found.
3. Undelivered telegrams, which are in course of transmission by post, are kept in the post office to which they are addressed for a period of three days from the date on which they reach that office, and are then returned to the telegraph office by which they were posted.
4. Undelivered packets of registered newspapers are returned direct to the sender after 7 days.
1. An undelivered postal article, of which the addressee –
1. has refused or omitted to take delivery after due notice has been given to him by the post office,
1. is known to have gone away from India without leaving instructions at the post office as to the redirection of his correspondence, or
2. (iii)is dead and there is no person to whom the article could properly be delivered, is not detained in the post office to which it is addressed, but is sent at once to the Returned Letter Office, with the following exceptions :
2. Refused unregistered articles which bear clearly on the outside the name and address of the sender, are returned direct to the office of posting by head and sub-offices except that articles on which postage or any sum is due to be recovered, are sent to the head office by those sub-offices not authorized to make daily dispatches to the Returned Letter Office.
3. Unclaimed and refused insured articles and refused uninsured registered articles (including V.P. articles) are returned at once direct to the offices of posting for delivery to the sender. If the senders of articles so returned to the office of posting cannot be found, the articles are then sent to the Returned Letter Office.

NOTE : The expression “office of posting” means the delivery post office which serves the address of the sender.

75. Disposal of articles sent to the Returned Letter Office. – (1) In the Returned Letter Office, further endeavours are made to find the addressees of articles other than refused articles or articles addressed to deceased persons. If the addressees cannot be found, those articles which bear the name of the sender in the cover are returned to the office of posting for delivery to the sender. Those which do not bear the name of sender on the cover are opened, for the purpose of ascertaining the name and address of the sender; if the necessary information is found, the article are returned to the sender; if it cannot be found, they are disposed of in the Returned Letter Office after being detained for a certain fixed period.

(2) Refused articles and articles addressed to deceased persons are treated in the Returned Letter Office, in the same manner as articles the addresses of which cannot be found.

1. Obligation of sender to pay postal charges. – The sender is bound to pay any postage or other sum due on the undelivered or refused articles returned to him by the post office. In the case of refused articles returned to him by the post office. In the case of refusal to pay the amount due the post office has the remedy described in clause 52.
2. ENQUIRY AND COMPLAINTS
1. Suggestion and Complaints book.- A book for recording suggestions and complaints is available at all Post Offices, during the working hours of the office.
2. Authority to whom complaints should be addressed. – All complaints should be addressed to the local Superintendent of Post Offices except in the case of a First Class Head Post Office the Postmaster in charge of which is competent to attend to any compliant relating to his office.
1. Transmission of public complaints .-Bonafide complaints against the service including reminders to previous complaints addressed to any officer of the Post Office, will be accepted for transmission free of charge if tendered open or in an open cover at any Post. Complaints relating to a V.P. article should be tendered at the post office where the V.P. article
2. was posted and must be accompanied by the prescribed enquiry fee. Complaints sent by post must be pre-paid with postage. Unpaid or insufficiently prepaid communications will not be accepted.
3. Circle Complaints Officers. – A Circle Complaints Officer Vigilance Officer is attached to the Headquarters of each Circle to ensure proper attention to and expedite the disposal of public complaints. He may be referred to if any complaint is delayed or the reply received is unsatisfactory.
1. Period within which complaints should be preferred. – Complaints should be preferred within the time limits indicated below, after which it will not be possible to attend to them as the relevant records in the office concerned would have been destroyed in the usual course:
1. Complaints relating to money orders and V.P. 12 months from the date of issue of the money order, or
2. articles. booking of the V.P. article (2 years in the case of money orders issued at field Post Offices) and family allotment money orders remitted on behalf of seamen working in Indian merchanships.
1. Complaints relating to loss or damage to a Three months from the date of posting of the article. registered or insured article where a claim for compensation is made

(iii) Other complaints relating to the inland post. Six months from the date of the incident.

(iv)

Refund of telegraph charges on T.M.Os. Two months from the date of issue of the T.M.O.s

(v)

Complaints, regarding miscarriage, loss or Twelve months from the last day of the month of issue. destruction of postal orders.

NOTE :-The remitter or the payee of a money order is advised to prefer a complaint as early as possible if the money order is not paid within a reasonable time.

1. Particulars to be given in complaints - Full particulars of the article in question, the exact nature of the complaint, details of the sender and addressee or payee should invariably be given. The complaint should be accompanied by the documents and information furnished as indicated below in the case of the following types of complaints :
2. NOTES FOR PUBLIC INFORMATION
1. Post Office Monopoly in the conveyance of letters. – (i) Under the Post Office Act, the exclusive privilege of carrying all letters and postcards within India, along with the incidental services of collecting, delivering, etc., is reserved to the Central Government and is exercised through the Post Office. The following classes of letters, however, come outside the scope of this privilege :
1. letters sent by a private friend in his way, journey or travel, to be delivered by him to the person to whom they are directed, without hire, reward or other profit or advantage for receiving, carrying or delivering them;
2. letters solely concerning the affairs of the sender or receiver thereof sent by a messenger on purpose; and
3. letters solely concerning goods or property, sent either by sea or by land to be delivered with the goods or property which the letters concern, without hire, reward or other profit or advantage for receiving, carrying or delivering them.

(a)	Relating to articles for which a receipt is issued by the Post Office.	A copy of the receipt.
(b)	Loss of or delay to unregistered mails	(i) Time and date of posting.
		(ii) Letter box where article was posted.
		(iii) Full address on the article.
		(iv) Person posting the article. In cases of delay, the wrapper of cover should be sent.

(c)	Loss of contents	Particulars of missing contents if known, along with the wrapper or cover.
(d)	Overcharges	Wrapper or cover wherever possible, the article should be opened before the postmaster
(e)	P.O. Savings Bank	Account No. and Office at which opened.
(f)	Loss, Miscarriage or destruction of Postal Orders.	Counterfoil or failing this serial No. of the order. Office from which purchased and date of purchase.

(ii) The collection of letters and postcards for the purpose of sending them otherwise then by post is also prohibited.

(iii) Common carriers of goods and passengers, including owners and masters of sailing vessels, their servants and agents are expressly forbidden to convey letters (including postcards) or perform any of the incidental services of collection, delivery, etc., even if they obtain no hire, reward, or other profit or advantage for such a service. This does not apply to mails tendered by the Post Office for conveyance by such common carriers.

1. Legal Responsibility of the Post Office. – The Indian Post Office is exempted by law from all responsibility in the case of (1) loss, misdelivery or delay of, or damage to, any postal article in course of transmission by post and (2) wrong payment of delay in payment by Foreign Postal Administration of money orders issued in India. In the case of money orders paid in India and of insured letters and parcels, the extent of the liability of the Indian Post Office will be found in the rules regarding these classes of business.
2. Secrecy. – All postal officials are forbidden, under pain of dismissal, for making public any information coming to their knowledge in the course of their official duties.
1. Licences for sale of Postage Stamps. – The sale or distribution of postage stamps or dealing in any other manner in postage stamps, except under the terms and conditions of a licence issued by or on behalf of the Central Government, is prohibited. This prohibition will not apply to sale of postage stamps by –
1. a philatelic agency;
2. a hospital, sanatorium or other similar institution; and
3. an institute for the recreation of Defence Services personnel.

Applications for licences to sell postage stamps should be addressed to the local Superintendent of Post Offices.

1. Non-exchange of Postage Stamps and stationery. – The Post Office will not normally refund the value of unused items of postage stamps or stationery or exchange them for other denominations or kinds of stamps or stationery.
2. Acceptance of Small Coins. – Under the Indian Coinage Act, coins other than a rupee coin and 50 Paise coin are only legal tender in payment of, or on account for, any sum not exceeding one Rupee; the public cannot, therefore, insist on post offices receiving such small coins for more than one rupee; Post Office officials will, however, endeavour to oblige the public as far as possible where this can be done without inconvenience.
3. Articles addressed to deceased persons. – Articles addressed to deceased persons are ordinarily dealt with in the same manner as unclaimed articles. Postmasters are, however, authorized to exercise their discretion in delivering such articles to any near relative of the deceased who may have applied for them or who may desire to receive them, so long as the articles are uninsured and do not appear to contain any valuable property and there is no doubt as to the title of the applicant to receive such articles and there is no counter-claimant or likelihood of dispute. In all other cases, applications in respect of such articles should be addressed to the Head of the Circle concerned.

NOTE : Please also see Clause 230.

1. Liability to detention of certain mails. – In cases where the transmission or delivery of letters would be delayed by the dispatch or delivery at the same time of books pattern or sample packets (other than registered newspapers) or parcels, such articles may be held back in the office of posting for a period not exceeding one day. These articles, excepting parcels, may also be held over till the next delivery in the office of delivery.
1. Facilities provided by village postmen in rural areas. – In addition to their regular delivery work, village postmen carry a small stock of postage stamps and stationery of the more
2. frequently utilized denominations for sale to the rural public. They also, keep a stock of the commonly required postal forms like acknowledgement forms. Money Order forms may also be obtained from them on payment of ten paise for each form. Village postmen are, also, authorized to book registered letters and post cards tendered to them for dispatch for which a receipt will be issued by them and to collect letters tendered to them for dispatch.
2. Issue of Post Office Forms. – The forms prescribed for the various transactions can be obtained from the Post Office. Post Offices will issue only the reasonable requirements of the forms actually needed for immediate postal transactions. For the convenience of firms and other institutions requiring large quantities of Post Office Forms in connection with their business, books of the more commonly used forms are available for sale at a nominal price at all principal Post Offices. Forms of acknowledgement for registered articles are supplied in books of fifty forms at nominal price.
3. Services which cannot be claimed. – Post Office officials are absolutely forbidden to affix stamps to letters, or other articles brought to the Post Office. They are not bound to give change or to weigh for the public, letters or other articles, except (1) registered articles and parcels which are weighed before being accepted and (2) articles for the surcharged air mail service whether registered or not.
1. Acceptance of cheques. – (a) Cheques will be accepted from the public in any Postal transactions, provided that –
1. the cheques are drawn on banks situated in the same place as the Post Office at which they are presented and those banks are included in the list of banks furnished by the respective Heads of Circles to the post offices where cheques are presented;
2. the amount of each such cheque is not less than Rs. 20; and

(iii) the bank concerned gives a guarantee on a stamped paper and in such form as prescribed by the Director General ( a specimen copy is given below) renewable every three years to the effect that all cheques drawn in favour of the Postal Department by particular drawees therein will be honoured by it.

NOTE 1: Cheques drawn on banks whose guarantees have expired will not be accepted until they are renewed by the banks in which their accounts stand.

NOTE 2: Postmen are not authorized to accept cheques which will be accepted only at the counters of the post offices.

EXCEPTION 1: The conditions of this clause do not apply to the Telephone subscribers who may at their discretion pay the bills on account of rent of telephone lines; and instruments and trunk call fees by cheque drawn on any known bank together with commission sufficient for clearance if the cheque is drawn on an outstation bank.

EXCEPTION 2 : The conditions of this clause do not apply to cheques presented for the purchase of National Plan Savings Certificates or for deposit in Post Offices Savings bank Accounts. Cheques drawn on local or outstation banks for this purpose will be accepted subject to the conditions given in rules 9 and 24-A of Savings Certificates, Rules 1960 and Post Office Savings Bank Rules, 1981 respectively.

EXCEPTION 3 : Cheques drawn by any of the following in his/its official capacity on Reserve Bank or State Bank of India or any other bank having clearing account with Reserve Bank or State bank may be accepted without a Bank guarantee in all Postal transactions provided such cheques are otherwise in order.

(a)

Govt. Departments/Offices (including States).

(b)

Indian Universities constituted under an act of a State/Central Govt.

(c)

President or Chairman of a District, Municipal and Local Board.

(d)

Manager of an Estate under the control of court of wards.

(e)

Units of Life Insurance Corporation.

(f)

Offices of Employees State Insurance Corporation.

(g)

Offices of the Indian Oil Corporation.

(h)

Semi-Government/Local Self-Government undertakings.

(i)

Scheduled Banks.

(j)

Foreign Missions.

(b) If any firm or individual who wish to make use of the system of payment by means of cheques at the post offices in connection with Postal transactions is unable to produce the guarantee referred to in clause (a) iii) of this rule, they will be given to option of requiring an approved local bank to draw on behalf of the firm or individual its own pay orders or cheques either on itself or on some other approved local bank in favour of the Postal Department and a specimen signature of the bank’s officer who draws such a cheque or pay order should be furnished to the post office where the cheque or pay order is likely to be presented in good time preferably a week before the actual relative transaction takes place to enable the post office to have the genuiness of the signature of the bank’s officer verified by a responsible official of the post office and kept on record. The post office accepts no responsibility for delay in the issue of such money orders (ordinary or telegraphic) and will not deliver V.P. parcels or letters charged with customs duty until the cheque or pay order is cleared.

SPECIMEN FORM OF GUARANTEE

To, The Postmaster, ……………….. Post office.

We hereby guarantee to honour all cheques to the extent of Rs…………. outstanding at any one time on the Bank in your favour by Mr./Messrs…………. in connection with Postal transactions provided :

(i)

That cheques exceeding the total amount of the guarantee are not accepted at any one time, and

(ii)

That the bank would only be liable to pay uncashed cheques upto the total amount of the guarantee, and that if at any time cheques or pay orders over than amount are accepted by the post office and are not paid, the Bank would not be liable to pay any amount over the guaranteed limit.

(iii) That cheques are properly drawn and endorsed and are otherwise in order.

1. This guarantee will remain in force for a period of three years from the date hereof upto and including ……….. and cheques drawn on or after the said date will not be accepted by the Postal Department, unless and until the guarantee is extended for a further period.
2. Any suit or action to enforce a claim under this guarantee in respect of a cheque shall be filed or taken within six months from the date of the cheque.

Unless the suit or action is filed or taken within that time, all your rights under the guarantee in respect of the said cheque shall be deemed to have been forfeited and we shall be released and discharged from any liability there under in respect of the said cheque.

Signature of the Manager of the Bank.

95. Latest date for payment of dues. – When the last day for the payment of any postal or telegraph dues or for the receipt of sums due from the post office falls on a Sunday or post office holiday, the next working day shall be taken as the last day for such transactions.

SECTION II – LETTER AND PARCEL POST INTRODUCTORY

96. “Inland Post”. – Subject to such exceptions as may be notified by the Central Government the term “Indian Post” means the post maintained by the Central government either by land or by sea or by air –

(1)

between any places in India; or

(2)

between any places in India and places beyond the limits of India which are served by Post Offices established by the Central Government; or

(3)

between any places beyond the limits of India which are served by Post Offices established by the Central Government.

1. “Postal Articles”. – The term “ Postal article” is used to describe for the pusposes of the Inland, the following ten classes, for each of which a distinctive rate of postage is prescribed :
2. First class and Second class Mails. – (1) Letters, post cards and letter cards are treated as first class mail; all other articles, such as Book Packets, Registered Newspapers, Pattern and sample packets and Blind literature packets are treated as articles of second class mail.

Letters	Book and pattern packets	Registered Newspapers
Letter cards	Book packets containing printed Books	Sample packets
Post cards	Book packets containing periodicals “Blind Literature” packets	Parcels

(2) Under the “All-up” scheme all First Class Mails are given air transmission within the limits of India, wherever such a conveyance is available and will expedite the delivery of the articles without any special air surcharge. Second Class Mails are forwarded by air only if they are marked for its transmission and are paid with the requisite air surcharge.

NOTE :- Registered Newspapers, however, are treated in sorting as in class mail but no air lift is allowed unless they bear the required surcharges.

LETTERS

1. Payment of Postage. – Letters may be transmitted by post with or without pre-payment of postage. The advantage of the payment of postage has been indicated in clause 9.
1. Limits of weight and size. – A letter should not weigh more than 2 Kg. It should also conform to the following limits and size :
1. Maximum limits
1. In roll form Single dimension . . . . 80 cm. Sum of length & twice diameter . . 100 cm.
2. In other than roll form Single dimension . . . . 60 cm. Sum of length, breadth and depth combined 90 cm.
1. Minimum Limits :
1. In roll form Single dimension . . . 10 cm Sum of length & twice diameter . . 17 cm.
2. In other than roll form . . 11 cm x 7 cm.

EXCEPTION : Items measuring less than the minimum prescribed may be transmitted provided they bear a rectangular address label of cardboard or strong paper of which the two adjacent sides together measure not less than 16 cm, and the smaller side is not less than 4 cm.

101. Unpaid and Insufficiently Paid Letters. – (1) A letter posted unpaid is charged on delivery with double the postage, and a letter posted insufficiently prepaid is charged on delivery with double the amount of the deficiency.

(2) Unpaid letters, with or without covers, must be securely closed by the senders, and any such letter posted open or insecurely closed by the Post Office before being forwarded to their destination.

SPECIAL PACKING INSTRUCTIONS

102. Cinematograph Film. – When non-inflammable of “Safety” cinematograph films are sent by the letter post a white label bearing the words “Safety films non-inflammable” in plain block letters must be affixed to the outside of each packet.

103.Biological Specimens. Perishable biological substances can be sent by letter post under the conditions mentioned in sub-clause (7) of clause 133.

104. Articles enclosed in Transparent Envelopes. – Articles sent in envelopes which are wholly transparent will not be transmitted by post. Articles in envelopes with a transparent panel will, however, be transmitted by post provided they conform to the following conditions :

(a)

The transparent panel must be parallel to the greatest dimension so that the address of the addressee appears in the same direction and the application of the date stamp is not interfered with.

(b)

The address must be clearly readable through the panel and no other communication should be visible through the panel so as to affect the clarity of the address.

(2) If any Postal article contravening the above provisions is found during the course of transmission, it will be returned to the sender.

105. Articles enclosed in open panel envelopes. – (1) No article shall be transmitted by post in an envelope with an open (cut-out) panel which does not conform to the following conditions; namely:

(a)

the open (cut-out) panel must not exceed 10 cm in length by 3.5 cm in breadth;

(b)

the panel must extent parallel to the length of the envelope;

(c)

a minimum space of 1.5 cm must be left above the panel for the postage stamp and the date-stamp impression;

(d)

no writing or printing other then the address may be visible through the panel and the address must appear through the panel in such a manner as can be read easily;

(e)

the enclosure must be so folded that it cannot move about in the envelope and thus cause the address to be hidden;

(f)