For short delivery of a parcel sent from the US, the Kharar postmaster and director, Foreign Speed Post, New Delhi, will have to pay Rs 20,000 as compensation to a Kharar resident.
While disposing of the complaint filed by Bhagat Ram, the district consumer disputes redressal forum, SAS Nagar, held the two deficient in services.
“It was the duty of the Kharar post office and Foreign Speed Post, New Delhi, to take due care of the articles sent by the complainant's son from the US. In case of any short delivery or missing articles, the onus lies on them in whose possession the parcel was during the course of transmission from the US to Kharar,” read the forum order issued on Thursday.
The forum held the duo liable for short delivery of articles to the value of Rs 33,650, directing them to pay the amount to Bhagat Ram.
The forum observed, “Some of the articles, particularly chocolates and sweets, outlived their shelf life, making the complainant suffer loss. Therefore, on account of short delivery as well as delivery of expired articles, the acts of the duo amount to deficiency in service.”
Bhagat Ram moved forum saying that his son, who lives in the US, sent a parcel containing an iPad cover, earphones, four pairs of shoes, along with chocolates and toffees, for him. When he opened the parcel on February 3, 2012, at Kharar post office, he found that some items were missing and refused to take the delivery.
{{/usCountry}}Bhagat Ram moved forum saying that his son, who lives in the US, sent a parcel containing an iPad cover, earphones, four pairs of shoes, along with chocolates and toffees, for him. When he opened the parcel on February 3, 2012, at Kharar post office, he found that some items were missing and refused to take the delivery.
{{/usCountry}}He said he followed up with the postal authorities for full and final delivery of the articles sent by his son but they failed to redress his grievance.
In their reply, the Kharar postmaster and Foreign Speed Post director submitted that “complainant is not a consumer, but only an addressee, if any article during transmission is damaged, the complainant is not entitled to any compensation.”