Chandigarh, December 28
Finding deficiency in the service of Union of India through Secretary, Ministry of Communication and Department Posts, Dak Bhawan, Sansad Marg, New Delhi, the consumer court directed it to pay Rs 79, 378 to a resident of SAS Nagar. The court also directed it to pay Rs 1100 as compensation for harassment caused to her.
As per the complainant Ms Amarjit Kaur, her father, who died on April 29, 1999, left a deposit worth Rs 48,000 in the monthly income scheme with a balance of Rs 31,378 with the Union of India through the Secretary of Ministry of Communication and Department of Posts, Senior Superintendent of Posts, Sector-17 and Sub-Post Master, Sector-19 (Opposite Party).
The complainant laid claim to the amount being the sole legal heir of the holder. The opposite party asked the complainant that as the amount exceeded Rs 60,000, she should produce a succession certificate in the absence of which she would be refused the amount.
The plea of the complainant was that there was no need to obtain the succession certificate, particularly when the opposite party had itself released the payment of about Rs 3 lakh held by deceased, Darshan Singh, under different schemes like Kisan Vikas Patras.
Finding deficiency in service, the court directed the Union of India to pay the amount of two accounts to the complainant. The court also allowed the complaint with the costs of Rs 1100 and directed the opposite party to pay the amount of the two accounts with interest.
