Misbehaving with Senior Citizen costs Rs 35K to Postal Department:
A consumer forum has directed the Department of Post to pay a compensation of Rs 35,000 to a senior citizen for misbehaving with him at a designated counter by giving priority to a middle aged woman in withdrawing money.
C R Gautam, a Delhi resident, was also refused to withdraw his money after waiting for long hours at the counter specifically meant for senior citizens.
"The Department of Post including the Director General shall jointly and severally pay Rs 35,000 as compensation to the Gautam for causing mental agony, harassment," a south district consumer forum comprising president M C Mehra and member Vinay Singh said in its order.
It passed the order on a complaint filed by Gautam alleging deficiency of service on the part of the Department of Post.
"The Department of Post including the Director General shall jointly and severally pay Rs 35,000 as compensation to the Gautam for causing mental agony, harassment," a south district consumer forum comprising president M C Mehra and member Vinay Singh said in its order.
It passed the order on a complaint filed by Gautam alleging deficiency of service on the part of the Department of Post.
The senior citizen had gone to GPO, New Delhi, on August 4, 2005 to withdraw Rs 9,000 which he had invested in a monthly income scheme. After filling the withdrawal slip which was duly signed, he presented it to the counter marked for the senior citizens but the staff concerned was attending a lady of around 40 years and he was asked to wait.
After waiting for a long time, he was asked to collect the money from the Deputy Post Master but to his utter dismay, the official concerned was not on his seat.
He again approached the counter staff who misbehaved and refused to clear the payment.
Aggrieved, Gautam approached the consumer forum alleging that the refusal on the part of the Department of Post has put him in financial hardship and mental agony.
He again approached the counter staff who misbehaved and refused to clear the payment.
Aggrieved, Gautam approached the consumer forum alleging that the refusal on the part of the Department of Post has put him in financial hardship and mental agony.
The counter staff opposed Gautam''s plea contending that there was no deficiency of service on his part as he was attending the lady on the instance of the Post Master.
However, the forum was not impressed by the contentions of the department and rejected the plea. "The rude and obstinate behaviour of the counter staff against Gautam without any cogent reason in harassing him, mental agony as well as physical harassment, and finally not paying his amount and throwing his papers clearly amounts deficiency in service on the part of the Department of Post," the forum held.
However, the forum was not impressed by the contentions of the department and rejected the plea. "The rude and obstinate behaviour of the counter staff against Gautam without any cogent reason in harassing him, mental agony as well as physical harassment, and finally not paying his amount and throwing his papers clearly amounts deficiency in service on the part of the Department of Post," the forum held.
Source: PTI ( Jan 5, 2011 )
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