1. Indian Post Office Act, 1898
  2. CHAPTER VI - REGISTRATION, INSURANCE AND VALUE-PAYABLE POST

CHAPTER VI - REGISTRATION, INSURANCE AND VALUE-PAYABLE POST

CHAPTER VI

 

REGISTRATION, INSURANCE AND VALUE-PAYABLE POST

 

  1. Registration of Postal articles.- The sender of a postal article may, subject to the other provisions of this Act, have the article registered at the post office at which it is posted, and require a receipt therefore; and the [Central government] may, by notification in the [Official Gazette], direct that, in addition to any postage chargeable under this Act, such further fee as may be fixed by the notification shall be paid on account of the registration of postal articles.

 

  1. Power to make rules as to registration.- (1)The Central Government may make rules as to the registration of postal articles.

 

  1. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may-
  1. declare in what cases registration shall be required;
  2. prescribe the manner in which the fees for registration shall be paid; and
  3. direct that twice the fee for registration shall be levied on the

delivery of a postal article required to be registered on which the fee for registration has not been prepaid.

 

  1. Postal articles made over to the Pos t Office for the purpose of being registered, shall be delivered, when registered, at such times and in such manner as the Director General may, by order, from time to time appoint.

 

  1. Insurance of postal articles.- The [Central Government] may, by notification in the [Official Gazette], direct-

 

  1. that any postal article may, subject to the other provisions of this Act, be insured at the post office at which it is posted, against the risk of loss or damage in course of transmission by post, and that a receipt therefore shall be granted to the person posting it; and
  2. that, in addition to any postage and fees for registration chargeable under this Act, such further fee as may be fixed by the notification shall be paid on account of the insurance of postal articles.

 

  1. Power to require insurance of postal articles.- The [Central Government] may, by notification in the [Official Gazette], declare in what case insurance shall be required, and direct that any postal article containing anything required to be insured, which has been posted without being insured, shall be returned to the sender or shall be delivered to the addressee, subject to the payment of such special fee as may be fixed by the notification:

Provided that the levy of such special fee as afore said shall not impose any liability upon [the Central Government] in respect of the postal article.

 

  1. Power to make rules as to insurance.- (1) The [Central Government] may make rules as to the insurance of postal articles.

 

  1. in particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may-

 

  1. declare what classes of postal articles may be insured under section 30;
  2. fix the limit of the amount for which postal articles may be

insured; and

  1. prescribe the manner in which the fees for insurance shall be paid.

3. Postal articles made over to the Post Office for the purpose of being insured, shall be delivered, when insured, at such places and times and in such manner as the Director General may, by order, from time to time, appoint.

 

  1. Liability in respect of postal articles insured. - Subject to such conditions and restrictions as the [Central Government] may, by rule, prescribe [the Central Government] shall be liable to pay compensation, not exceeding the amount for which a postal article has been insured, to the sender thereof for the loss of the postal article or its contents, or for any damage caused to it in course of transmission by post:

 

Provided that the compensation so payable shall in no case exceed the value of the article lost or the amount of the damage caused.

 

  1. Transmission by post of value-payable postal articles.- The [Central Government] may, by notification in the [official Gazette], direct that, subject to the other provisions, of this Act and to the payment of fees at such rates as may be fixed by the notification, a sum of money specified in writing at the time of posting by the sender of a postal article shall be recoverable on the delivery thereof from the addressee, and that the sum, so recovered, shall be paid to the sender:

 

Provided that [the Central Government shall not] incur any liability in respect of the sum specified for recovery, unless and until that sum has been received from the addressee.

 

Explanation.- Postal articles sent in accordance with the provisions of this section may be described as “value-payable” postal articles.

  1. Power to make rules as to value-payable postal articles.- (1) The [Central Government] may make rules as to the transmission by post of value-payable postal articles.

 

  1. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may--

 

  1. declare what classes of postal articles may be sent as value- payable postal articles;
  2. direct that no postal article shall be so sent unless the sender declares that it is sent in execution of a bona fide order received by him;
  3. limit the value to be recovered on the delivery of any value- payable postal article;
  4. prescribe the form of declaration to be made by the senders of value-payable postal articles, and the time and manner of the payment of fees;

[(e) provide for the retention and repayment to the addressee in cases of fraud of money recovered on the delivery of any value -payable postal article; and

  1. prescribe the fees to be charged for inquiries into complaints regarding the delivery of or payment for value-payable postal article.]

 

  1. Postal articles shall be made over to the Post Office for the purpose of being sent as “value-payable” and shall be delivered, when so sent, at such times and in such manner as the Director- General may, by order, from time to time, appoint.

 

[(4) No suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against [the Central Government] or any officer of the Post Office in respect of anything done, or in good faith purporting to be done under any rule made under clause (e) of sub-section (2).]

 

  1. Power to give effect to arrangements with other countries.-
  1. Where arrangement made with the United Kingdom, or with any British possession, or foreign country are in force], for the transmission by post of registered, insured or value payable postal articles between India and the United Kingdom or such possession or country, the Central Government may make rules to give effect to such arrangements.

 

  1. In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may prescribe-

 

  1. the form of declaration to be made by the senders of such postal articles as aforesaid; and
  2. the fees to be charged in respect thereof.