Post office guide part i - India Post

offices, a first class Postmaster or the Head of a Circle, as may be required to the Defense
Department without their passing through a bank provided a commissioned officer of the unit to
which the holder belonged, or a commissioned officer of the Effects Branch at 2 nd Echelon 11
Army Group or at Central Record Office, Jhansi, signs the order as the representative of the
deceased, and also signs an indemnity on the back of the order to refund the amount in the event of
a claim in respect of the order being accepted at any time by the Postal Department.
NOTE :- Government offices or semi-Government offices which receive a large number of Indian Postal
Orders crossed or uncrossed, may obtain payment of such orders by book adjustment. The orders
duly receipted should be presented along with a prescribed form, duly filled in triplicate or
quadruplicate (if presented at a sub-office) at any Head or Sub-Office which is in account with the
treasury or a sub-treasury.
249. Counterfoils. – The purchaser of an Indian Postal Order should fill in the particulars
for which provision has been made on the counterfoil, which he should tear off and retain.
Although the possession of the counterfoil does not entitle the holder to compensation, it facilitates
enquiry in the event of the order being lost.
250. Applications regarding miscarriage, loss or destruction of orders. – All
applications for enquiry in respect of miscarriage, loss or destruction of Indian Postal Orders
should be made within twelve months from the last day of the month of issue, and must be made to
the Superintendent of Post Offices or the First Class Postmaster in whose jurisdiction the office of
issue of the order is situated and be accompanied by the counterfoil. If the counterfoil cannot be
produced, the Serial No. of the Order, office of issue and date of purchase must be quoted,
otherwise no claim will be entertained.
NOTE :- In such cases, refund if justified, will not be granted before the expiry of sixteen months from the
last day of the month of issue of the order.
251. Altered, mutilated or incomplete orders. – (1) If any erasure or alteration be made
or if the order is not stamped or signed by the postmaster of the issuing office, or if the order is cut,
defaced or mutilated, payment may be refused; and when payment is refused on any of these
grounds, no refund of the order will be granted.
(2) Postmasters have authority, in case of doubt, to retain the postal order for further
investigation after giving a receipt for it. The person presenting the order should furnish his name
and address to the Postmaster to enable him to be contacted later.
252. Period during which orders are Payable. – (1) If an Indian Postal Order is not
presented for payment within six months from the last day of the month of issue a second
commission at the rates prescribed will be charged which must be paid in postage stamps affixed
to the back of the order. Those authorized to use them may pay the second commission in Service
Postage Stamps.
(2) Indian Postal Orders presented for payment more than twelve months after the last days
of the month of issue will not be paid but will be forfeited.