Ram Lal Sharma vs STATE MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS

THE present appeal, filed by the appellant, under Section 15 of the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 (hereinafter referred to as ''the Act''), is directed against order dated 15.12.1999, passed by District Forum (New Delhi) in Complaint Case No. T.C./2662/98 - entitled Sh. Ram Lal Sharma v. State Minister for Communication, Ministry of Communication, Govt. of India & Ors.

THE facts relevant for the disposal of the present appeal lie in a narrow compass. THE appellant Sh. Ram Lal Sharma had filed a complaint before the District Forum under Section 12 of the Act. THE grievance of the appellant, in the complaint filed by him before the District Forum, was that Telegraphic Money Orders, Money Orders, Registered Letters, Letters and Telegrams, sent by him were delivered late/not delivered by the concerned postal authorities and the authorities of the Telegraph Department. We have heard the appellant at length on the question of admission of the present appeal and have also carefully gone through the documents/material on record including the copy of the order, being impugned in the present proceedings. On a perusal of the impugned order, it is apparent that the learned District Forum, placing reliance on a number of decisions of the Hon''ble National Commission, has held that in view of the statutory bar, created by Section 6, Section 48 of the Indian Post Office Act, 1898 and Section 9 of the Telegraph Act, 1885, no relief can be granted to the appellant and has, therefore, dismissed the complaint, filed by the appellant. In our opinion, the above findings of the learned District Forum suffer from no infirmity and call for no interference by this Commission in exercise of its appellate powers. The present appeal, filed by the appellant, therefore, is dismissed in limine with no order as to costs. Appeal dismissed.