252. Daily Rules Recap – No departmental proceedings after four years

 Gist of B.O. Rules -2

Chapter I: Miscellaneous Rules
• Rule 1: Function of a Branch Office: A branch office is authorized to transact various classes of business, including paid and unpaid unregistered articles of the letter mail, registered (ordinary and V.P.) articles, parcels, insured articles, money orders, savings bank and certificate business (if authorized), and payment to Army Reservists.

• Rule 2: Relations of a branch office with other offices: A branch office can be in direct communication with the R.M.S. or other offices for the exchange of unregistered and registered articles, except insured and V.P. articles.

• Rule 3: Responsibility for losses: This rule states that if a loss of government money or property occurs due to the negligence, omission, or disregard of rules by a departmental employee, including a G.D.S.M.D., they may be required to make good the loss in whole or in part.

• Rule 4: Work on Sundays and Post Office holidays: No public business is transacted on Sundays and Post Office holidays, as the branch office remains closed on those days. However, express telegraphic money orders can be accepted for issue and paid on any day except Sundays/holidays, and postage stamps, postcards, and embossed envelopes should always be sold on all days of the year except Sundays/holidays.

• Rule 5: Notice of hours of business: A notice of business hours in form M-6(c) is supplied to each branch office by the S.D.I. and should be prominently displayed for the public.

• Rule 6: Courtesy towards the public: Branch postmasters (B.P.M.) must always be courteous in their dealings with the public and should provide every facility for transacting business and offer information on parcel rates, etc.

• Rule 7: Village sorting lists and route lists and beat maps: This rule describes the village sorting list, which shows the names of villages and the V.P.Ms. or G.D.S.M.Ds. who serve them. It also covers the route list (M-53) and beat maps for V.P.Ms., which should be hung up in the office.

• Rule 8: Due mail and sorting lists: A due mail and sorting list will be supplied to every branch office in direct communication with the R.M.S. or to transit/sorting offices.

• Rule 9: Supervision of delivery staff: The B.P.M. must ensure that the postman's book (MS-27) is properly kept. They should also check the V.P.M.'s or postman's visit book (MS-86) and register (MS-85) to confirm that villages are visited on the due day. The B.P.M. must adjust accounts daily with the postman and G.D.S.M.D. and as soon as the village postman returns. The rule also covers the supply of stamps and money order forms to the delivery staff for sale.

• Rule 10: Responsibility for correct delivery of articles and payment of money orders: B.P.Ms. and their delivery staff are responsible for the correct delivery of all articles and money orders. In cases of doubt, they must satisfy themselves as to the identity of the addressee or payee through proper inquiries. For uninsured registered articles, delivery should be made in the presence of a respectable witness if the addressee is unknown.

• Rule 11: Custody of cash: This rule states that a safe may be provided to an extra-departmental branch office at the discretion of the Superintendent. The B.P.M. is responsible for the safe custody of all cash and valuables.

• Rule 12: Spoiled currency notes: Spoiled currency notes, if their identification features are doubtful, should not be accepted. Oiling alone is not a reason for refusal.

• Rule 13: Stock of postage stamps: The B.P.M. is responsible for maintaining a sufficient stock of postage stamps, embossed envelopes, postcards, money order forms, and reply-coupons. The stock should not fall below a week's demand or exceed the prescribed limit. Stamps should be kept in a box or safe to prevent damage and old stock should be used first.

• Rule 14: Postcards of Private manufacture: This rule outlines the conditions for the transmission of privately manufactured postcards, including dimensions and substance.

• Rule 15: Exchange of reply coupons with postage stamps: This rule covers the procedure for exchanging international and commonwealth reply-coupons for postage stamps, including checking for damage and defacement

• Rule 16: Spoilt or defaced postage stamps: Postage stamps that are spoiled, defaced, torn, or otherwise rendered imperfect will not be accepted as valid payment for postage or fees. This includes stamps that have been previously used, obliterated, or marked in a way not authorized by the Central Government. However, stamps with initials or identifying marks perforated into them are still acceptable.

• Rule 17: Previously used, forged, or counterfeit stamps and misused service stamps: The document outlines the procedure for handling articles that have been prepaid with previously used or counterfeit stamps. If an article has a stamp with marks of a previous obliteration that have not been removed, it will be taxed with the full postage due. Articles with counterfeit stamps or those prepaid with forged or counterfeit stamps should be sent to the account office.

• Rule 18: Foreign postage stamps not recognized: Foreign postage stamps are not recognized as payment for postage on correspondence posted in the branch office.

• Rule 19: Stamps and seals: This rule specifies the types of stamps and seals supplied to a branch office, including a date-stamp, a postage-due stamp, and a number slip name-stamp. A date-stamp with an hour type is provided to offices that dispatch mails more than once a day. The date-stamp must be used on every communication addressed by the branch postmaster to the Superintendent.

• Rule 20: Book of Postmarks: Every branch office must maintain a book (Form MS-18) where daily impressions of all stamps with movable type and seals are taken before they are used. The branch postmaster is required to initial the book daily after the impressions are taken to confirm they are clear and distinct.

• Rule 21: Books and forms and their preservation: This rule covers the books and forms used by the office and how they should be preserved.

• Rule 22: Book of receipts: This rule describes the book of receipts.

• Rule 23: Stock: The rule requires the branch postmaster to ensure that the receipts are in order.

• Rule 24: Supply of guides and books of blank forms: The branch postmaster is responsible for the sale of guides and other forms to the public.

• Rule 25: Supply of the Posts and Telegraphs Pocket Guide: A copy of the Pocket Guide in regional languages is supplied to the branch postmaster. More important branch offices may also receive a copy of the Post Office Guide, and those who can read English will be supplied with the Classified List of Indian Post Offices.

• Rule 26: Information not to be made public: Information regarding any postal article or transaction may not be disclosed to anyone outside the Department. This includes the contents of records or any details obtained in the course of business. Officers who violate this rule are liable to removal.

• Rule 27: Production of records before courts: Any summons for the production of records received by a branch office should be referred to the Superintendent for orders.

• Rule 28: Production of records before the police or an Excise Officer: Records can be produced and information can be given to police or excise officers on a written order in cognizable cases, but only entries relevant to the offense should be disclosed. The rule does not authorize the post office to hand over the records unless a specific order from a District Magistrate, Chief Presidency Magistrate, High Court, or Court of Sessions has been obtained by the police officer.

• Rule 29: Treatment of articles the importation of which is prohibited and of articles liable to customs duty: Articles suspected of containing prohibited items or those liable to customs duty should be forwarded to the account office with an assessment memo.

• Rule 30: Treatment of articles found to contain coin etc.: The rule covers the procedure for articles found to contain coins or other valuable items.

• Rule 31: Treatment of articles containing goods the export of which is specially prohibited: Articles containing goods whose export is prohibited must be sent to the account office.

• Rule 32: Distribution of advertisements etc., on behalf of the public prohibited: The post office is prohibited from distributing advertisements on behalf of the public.

• Rule 33: Facsimile impression of signature to be accepted as signature in certain cases: A facsimile impression of a signature can be accepted in certain circumstances.

• Rule 34: Thumb-impression of illiterate person: The thumb impression of an illiterate person must be attested by a witness in certain cases.

• Rule 35: Postage stamps, coins, and other articles of value found in a letter box or on a post office counter: The rule details the handling and disposal of valuable items found in a letter box or on a counter.

• Rule 36: Error book: An error book must be maintained in every departmental office to record errors and public complaints.

• Rule 37: Important irregularities to be reported at once: Important irregularities must be reported immediately.

• Rule 37-A: Suggestion/Complaint Book: This rule specifies that a suggestion/complaint book is to be maintained.

• Rule 38: Correspondence: The rule outlines the proper procedure for correspondence.

• Rule 39: Ink for correspondence: This rule pertains to the type of ink to be used for correspondence.

• Rule 40: Mobilisation notices and notices to reservists: The document covers the treatment of these notices.

• Rule 41: Payment of subsistence advance to army reservists: This rule details the procedure for paying a subsistence advance of Rs. 30 to each Army Reservist during a General Mobilisation.

• Rule 42: Post office order book: Every branch office must keep an order book (Form MS-8) for inspecting officers to record remarks and orders. The branch postmaster is personally responsible for promptly acting on these orders. The book is a permanent record, and the willful removal of a page is a serious offense.

• Rule 43: Correction slips: This rule relates to correction slips.

• Rule 44: Branch office circulars: The rule covers branch office circulars.

• Rule 45: Half-yearly enumeration returns: The branch postmaster must conduct a half-yearly enumeration of articles from the 8th to the 14th of February and August each year. The number of ordinary unregistered articles and parcels given out for delivery must be counted and entered in Form M.S.-6. A copy of the return must be sent to the account office by the 15th.

• Rule 46: Yearly village returns: This rule pertains to the yearly returns for villages.

• Rule 47: This rule has been deleted.

• Rule 48: Employment of extra-departmental delivery agents: The rule concerns the employment of extra-departmental delivery agents.

• Rule 49: Security furnished in the form of a personal bond: This rule covers the responsibilities of a branch postmaster who has furnished security in the form of a personal bond.

• Rule 50: Leave applications from extra-departmental branch postmasters and delivery agents: This rule deals with leave applications from extra-departmental staff.

• Rule 51: Contagious, infectious and repulsive diseases and ailments to be reported: This rule requires the reporting of contagious, infectious, or repulsive diseases occurring in the house of an official and the arrangements for the performance of their work.