R.Meenakshi v. Post Master General
IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE AT MADRAS
DATED : 02.07.2021
CORAM
THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE R.MAHADEVAN W.P.No.8882 of 2021 1.R.Meenakshi 2.V.Rajini
...Petitioners
Vs
1. Post Master General, Chennai City Region, Chennai - 600 002.
2. Assistant Director (SB & FS), O/o. Chief Post Master General, Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai - 600 002.
3. Post Master, Kodambakkam Post Office, No.39, Railway Border Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 600 024.
...Respondents
Writ Petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India praying for issuance of a writ of Mandamus directing the first respondent herein to pass orders on the petitioners Appeal dated 10.06.2020 in accordance with the Guideline of the Government of India within a time frame to be fixed by this Hon'ble Court.
For Petitioner :
M/s.D.Geetha For Respondents :
No appearance
O R D E R
The relief sought for in this writ petition is to direct the first respondent to pass orders on the petitioners' Appeal dated 10.06.2020 in accordance with the guidelines issued by the Government of India within a time frame to be fixed by this Court.
2. According to the petitioners, on 20.03.2020, they approached the third respondent to submit an application requesting to open the three Recurring Deposit Accounts for Rs.50,000/- each at the rate of interest of 7.2% along with three cheques bearing Nos.864810, 865011 and 864809 dated 20.03.2020 drawn on Canara Bank. On the same day, the petitioners received counterfoils for depositing the said cheques in the third respondent post office. Thereafter, on 06.05.2020, the third respondent informed to the petitioners that their RD accounts were not opened and cheques were also not deposited for clearance. In view of the same, the petitioners sent a mail dated 06.05.2020 to the second respondent, requesting to take necessary action. Thereafter, continuous efforts taken by them to open RD accounts on 05.06.
2020 with retrospective effect from 21.05.2020. It is the grievance of the petitioners that at the time of making the applications, the interest rate for RD accounts was 7.2%, but due to the fault on the part of the third respondent in opening the accounts belatedly, the rate of interest was reduced to 5.8% and hence, the petitioners sent a mail on 10.06.2020 to the second respondent, who in turn forwarded the same to the first respondent for appropriate action. However, till date, no action was taken on the said claim of the petitioners. Therefore, this writ petition.
3. Heard the learned counsel for the petitioners and perused the documents enclosed in the typed set of papers. Despite the service of notice and the name of the respondents having been printed in the cause list, there is no representation on their behalf.
4. Considering the facts and circumstances of the case and having regard to the submissions made by the learned counsel for the petitioners, this Court directs the first respondent to consider the petitioners' appeal/representation dated 10.06.2020 and pass appropriate orders, on merits and in accordance with law, within a period eight weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order.
5. This Writ Petition is disposed of with the above direction. No costs.
Sd/- Assistant Registrar(CS III) //True Copy// Sub Assistant Registrar
av To
1. Post Master General, Chennai City Region, Chennai - 600 002.
2. Assistant Director (SB & FS), O/o. Chief Post Master General, Tamilnadu Circle, Chennai - 600 002.
3. Post Master, Kodambakkam Post Office, No.39, Railway Border Road, Kodambakkam, Chennai - 600 024.
+1cc to Mr.D.Geetha, Advocate Sr.30968 W.P.No.8882 of 2021 um[co] srg 06/08/2021