On 16-12-2024, the Ministry of Communications notified the Post Office Rules, 2024 establishing a clear regulatory framework for the operation and management of postal services. The provisions came into force on 16-12-2024.
Key Points:
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Every Post Office, Domestic or Foreign, will have to provide the following services:
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mail services within or beyond the limits of the country;
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value-added service;
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universal postal service;
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financial services including banking, Government Savings Bank, payment system and any other financial services;
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money remittances services;
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insurance services;
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citizen-centric services;
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services associated with addressing identifiers and postcodes.
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Director General:
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Is authorized to introduce/ modify/ discontinue any product;
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Can enter into a collaboration with public/ private entities;
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Issue definitive, commemorative, special issues of postage stamps or any other form of postage stamps or related material;
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Will manage/ allocate and publish Postcodes/ Postal Index Number codes.
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Postal Services Board will be the apex level policy making body.
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Modes of payment of postage can be done in the following ways:
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Cash;
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Digitally;
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Postage stamp;
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Means of impressions of franking machines.
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International postal:
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Central Government will provide services in furtherance to the international postal co-operation.
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International co-operation will be with other countries/ territories/ Universal Postal Union (‘UPU’)/ other postal unions/ public or private entities.
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These international co-operations should be in conformity with the provisions of UPU Convention Manual and Regulations.
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Post Office’s mark will be the proof of certain facts in respect of the production of items that have been refused/ rejected/ unclaimed/ cannot be delivered due to any other reason.
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Interception/ detention/ Opening of items:
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Any such order can be issued only by a Member of the Board who is looking after the work of operations in the Department of Posts or the Circle Head.
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In emergent cases where a prior direction could not be sought, the Divisional Head will have the authority to issue such orders and the Divisional Head will have to inform the competent authority within 3 working days of such interception/ detention/ opening.
The competent authority will have to confirm such orders within the period of 7 working days.
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In order to oversee the interception, the Central Government will constitute a review committee which will meet at least once in every 3 months and review the directions issued. It will consist of:
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Director General, Posts- Chairman;
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2 Members of the Board
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The following officers will be authorized by the Central Government to intercept and detain items on the orders of the competent authority:
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Officer in-charge of Post Office or any higher officer;
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Officer in-charge of the Mail Office or any higher officer.
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Exemption from liability:
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Central Government will compensate for loss/ damage of an item.
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The compensation cannot exceed the amount of the loss / damage and will not be paid on prohibited items.
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