HYDERABAD: President Pranab Mukherjee
after completing his southern sojourn will leave Hyderabad today
afternoon but without knowing who has been trying to reach him and why.
For the first time in the history of Rashtrapathi Nilayam, the designated postman did not get security clearance to deliver the mail addressed to the first citizen.
As a result, a small parcel sent by Speedpost and about 8 letters addressed to the President are lying unopened at Bolarum post office.
The President arrived in Hyderabad on December 26 and post office officials said several people who are aware of the President's southern sojourn have tried to reach across to him with requests, prayers and best wishes during his short stay.
"From Rajendra Prasad to Pratibha Patil, we have delivered mail to the Presidents when they stay at Rashtrapathi Nilayam. This is the first time we have been unable to do so," Bolarum post office officials said.
As per procedure, Bolarum post office officials said they gave a letter to the Rashtrapathi Nilayam authorities two days before the arrival of Pranab, seeking security clearance for their staff to deliver mail but claimed that they received no response. Normally, the security clearance comes in the form of two passes coloured yellow and orange.
Postal staff with the yellow pass get access till the ADC to the President inside the Rashtrapathi Nilayam premises while those with the orange pass have to deliver the mail at the gate.
"We used to receive letters (post cards and inland letters) from all over the country and from the state addressed to the President from citizens on various issues. It is for the first time that we have not been able to deliver the mail to this President," a senior post office official told TOI.
The parcel that came via Speedpost, addressed to the President, weighs about 60 grams, he added. Postman G Mahesh told TOI that he had delivered mail to Pratibha Patil during her visit here during the last three years and also had the good fortune of getting himself photographed with her in 2011. "I handed the official letter to the RP Nilayam authorites on December 24 and also got a confirmation for the same. But no passes were issued," he said.
The unopened mail lying at Bolarum post office will be redirected to Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, he added.
When contacted, R P Nilayam in-charge N Mahesh Babu said his office did not receive any communication from the postal department seeking security clearance for their staff to deliver mail. "The postal authorities did not bring the matter to my notice. Even if the passes were not issued, they would have been allowed entry on the production of their identity cards," he said.
For the first time in the history of Rashtrapathi Nilayam, the designated postman did not get security clearance to deliver the mail addressed to the first citizen.
As a result, a small parcel sent by Speedpost and about 8 letters addressed to the President are lying unopened at Bolarum post office.
The President arrived in Hyderabad on December 26 and post office officials said several people who are aware of the President's southern sojourn have tried to reach across to him with requests, prayers and best wishes during his short stay.
"From Rajendra Prasad to Pratibha Patil, we have delivered mail to the Presidents when they stay at Rashtrapathi Nilayam. This is the first time we have been unable to do so," Bolarum post office officials said.
As per procedure, Bolarum post office officials said they gave a letter to the Rashtrapathi Nilayam authorities two days before the arrival of Pranab, seeking security clearance for their staff to deliver mail but claimed that they received no response. Normally, the security clearance comes in the form of two passes coloured yellow and orange.
Postal staff with the yellow pass get access till the ADC to the President inside the Rashtrapathi Nilayam premises while those with the orange pass have to deliver the mail at the gate.
"We used to receive letters (post cards and inland letters) from all over the country and from the state addressed to the President from citizens on various issues. It is for the first time that we have not been able to deliver the mail to this President," a senior post office official told TOI.
The parcel that came via Speedpost, addressed to the President, weighs about 60 grams, he added. Postman G Mahesh told TOI that he had delivered mail to Pratibha Patil during her visit here during the last three years and also had the good fortune of getting himself photographed with her in 2011. "I handed the official letter to the RP Nilayam authorites on December 24 and also got a confirmation for the same. But no passes were issued," he said.
The unopened mail lying at Bolarum post office will be redirected to Rashtrapati Bhavan in New Delhi, he added.
When contacted, R P Nilayam in-charge N Mahesh Babu said his office did not receive any communication from the postal department seeking security clearance for their staff to deliver mail. "The postal authorities did not bring the matter to my notice. Even if the passes were not issued, they would have been allowed entry on the production of their identity cards," he said.
Source : The Times of India, 1 Jan, 2013
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