[Order of the Court was made by G.R.SWAMINATHAN, J.] The writ petitioner is aggrieved by the impugned order dated 27.06.2017, passed by the third respondent, declining to assign Madurai Postal District Pin Code to the villages, namely, Keela Vadakkoor Angadimangalam, Thirumanampathi and Mela Vadakkoor.
2.The writ petitioner is a resident of Keela Vadakkoor village. His villagers have been getting postal service only from Tiruppuvanam Post Office which falls in Sivagangai District. Actually, the writ petitioner's village is in Madurai District. The Madurai District has the postal code assigned with '625 020'.
3.On the other hand, even though the writ petitioner's village is in Madurai District, the postal code assigned to them is '630 611'. As a result, whenever the writ petitioner's villagers submit any application through online corresponding with the Government Departments, the applications are returned on the ground that the postal pin code is not tallying. The petitioner's villagers have experienced such hardship, when they submit online application for getting passport or for taking part in public examinations.
4.Therefore, the petitioner moved this Court for directing the respondents to assign postal code of Madurai District to his Village Keela Vadakkoor and other villages, namely, Angadimangalam, Thirumanampathi and Mela Vadakkoor.
5.This Court directed the respondents to consider such representation. The third respondent however took the view that the assignment of pin code is based on the topography of the concerned village and need not be based on the district pattern. In other words, the postal jurisdiction and District Jurisdiction need not overlap.
6.Today, when the matter was taken up for disposal, the learned counsel appearing for the writ petitioner pointed out that the villagers in question have no objection for changing of delivery jurisdiction to Sakkudi Branch office. The third respondent in the impugned order has stated that, if there is a change of delivery jurisdiction, there will be a slight delay in delivery of postal articles. The villagers are ready to put up with the same.
7.We are more concerned with hardships that are being caused to them, on account of the online issues. In view of this, now, we deem it appropriate to permit the petitioner to give a fresh representation to the first respondent. The first respondent will take note of the difficulties personally experienced by the villagers in question on account of the non-overlapping of the postal jurisdiction and district jurisdiction. It is not possible to change the software of the passport authorities and all the other departments of the Government. Admittedly, the villages in question are located in Madurai District. Therefore, they can only give their address falling within Madurai District. But the postal pin code assigned to the villagers in question is that of Sivagangai District. Therefore, the software employed by the departments would refuse to accept the applications submitted by the persons residing in the said villages. This is a legitimate grievance and it has to be necessarily redressed. The Postal Department can easily find a solution by changing the delivery jurisdiction from Thirupuvanam Post Office to Sakkudi Post Office. Since the villagers appear to have expressed their willingness for change of delivery jurisdiction, there would not be any impediment for passing appropriate orders. The petitioner shall submit a fresh representation to the first respondent within two weeks from the date of receipt of a copy of this order. The first respondent is directed to pass appropriate orders so as to redress the grievances expressed in this writ petition within four weeks from the date of receipt of representation from the writ petitioner. This Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly. No costs.
To
1.The Chief Postmaster General, Tamil Nadu Circle, Chennai-600 002.
2.The Post Master General, Madurai Region, Madurai-625 002.
3.The Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Madurai Division, Madurai-625 002.
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