Mahesh Chandra Tiwari v. Counsel for
Case Details
1. Heard Sri Alok Tripathi for the petitioner and Sri Ravi Prakash Singh on behalf of the respondents.
2. The case of the petitioner is that he purchased five National Saving Certificates (NSCs) with maturity period of ten years. Four certificates were of the denomination of Rs. 10,000/- each and one of Rs. 5,000/-. The deposit has matured on 23.12.2023. The petitioner claims to have filed an undated application before the Sub Postmaster, Daraganj, Prayagraj, stating that he invested money in NSC on 23.12.2013 and which has matured on 23.12.2023. The aforesaid certificates have got misplaced. He requested for issuance of duplicate copies as the original was not traceable. There is an endorsement on the said application, which reads as - "Forwarded to PM AD Ktcy for issue duplicate NSC". It does not bear any signature.
3. The case of the petitioner is that however, duplicate certificates were not issued to him. On 29.6.2024, Sub Postmaster, P.S. Kutchery, Prayagraj, sent a communication to him requiring him to furnish Indemnity Bond, Purchase Application, Duplicate Fees and Pay Slip of Guarantor. On 11.9.2024, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj sent a communication to the petitioner in reference to his request for issue of duplicate NSCs dated 23.12.2013. It is stated that as per report of Daraganj Post Office dated 28.08.2024, no 2 WRIC No. 8790 of 2025 NSC, as claimed by the petitioner, was issued in his favour on
23.12.2013. In fact, three other NSCs, each of denomination Rs. 10,000/- were issued on 24.12.2013 and five NSCs of total sum of Rs. 45,000/- were issued on 30.12.2013. The maturity amounts against these certificates have already been transferred to the saving bank account of the petitioner. It is also stated that as per report obtained and as per ledger copy attached by Sub Postmaster, Daraganj along with his letter dated
28.8.2024, it is clear that in pursuance of purchase application dated
30.12.2013, NSC was issued for a sum of Rs. 45,000/- in the name of the petitioner and Kiran Tiwari and the maturity value thereof was duly paid on 01.01.2024. The petitioner thereafter seems to have filed repeated applications for issuance of duplicate certificates and again Postmaster, Prayagraj Kty. HQ by communication dated 17.1.2025, informed the petitioner that as per records of the post office, no such amount was deposited by the petitioner for issue of NSC as claimed by him nor any such NSC's were issued, therefore, it would not be possible to accede to his request. Aggrieved thereby, the instant writ petition has been filed, praying for a writ of mandamus commanding respondent no. 6 to issue duplicate NSCs in favour of the petitioner for a sum of Rs. 45,000/-.
4. On 24.4.2025, a Co-ordinate Bench passed the following order: - "Mr. Alok Tripathi, learned advocate appears on behalf of petitioner and submits, his client seeks issuance of duplicate National Savings Certificate regarding deposit of Rs. 45,000/-. He refers his client's letter disclosed at page 16 bearing endorsement, he submits, made by respondent no. 7. The endorsement says, inter alia, for issue of said 'certificate'. Mr. Ravi Prakash Singh, learned advocate appears on behalf of respondents and submits, there was no deposit made of Rs. 45,000/-. Respondent no. 7 will produce the register bearing record of such Saving Certificates issued between 22nd December to 24th December, 2013, for us to peruse and verify, whether a sum of Rs. 45,000/- was deposited against a certificate issued on those dates. We have directed aforesaid dates on petitioner's submission that the deposit was made on 23rd December, 2013, though there are disclosures, wherein petitioner said deposit was on 23rd December, 2013. List on 20th May, 2025 as fresh." 3 WRIC No. 8790 of 2025
5. It appears that in pursuance of the said order, the original register containing the details of NSCs issued by the post office was produced before the Court. Sri Alok Tripathi, counsel for the petitioner, was permitted to go through the register. The Co-ordinate Bench in its last order dated 20.5.2025 has recorded finding to the effect that Sri Alok Tripathi, counsel for the petitioner, after going through the register, concedes that no NSC was issued on 23.12.2013 (date wrongly mentioned in the said order as 29.12.2013, which fact is admitted by Sri Alok Tripathi, Advocate during course of arguments today).
6. Sri Ravi Prakash Singh, learned counsel appearing for the respondents, has placed on record the instructions received from Junior Superintendent of Post Office, Prayagraj Region, Prayagraj. A copy of the same has also been supplied to the other side. The relevant portion of the said instructions is as follows: - "्ऺकरण के संबंध में मंडलीय कायार्लय ्ऺयागराज ्षारा अपने प्ऴांक एनएससी/के वीपी/ सामान्य/2024-25 िदनांक 18.07.2024 (संलग्न) के माध्यम से उपडाकपाल दारागंज एवं पोस्ट मास्टर कचेहरी ्ऺधान डाकघर ्ऺयागराज से जानकारी मांगी गयी। िजसके ्ऺत्यु्तर में उपडाकपाल दारागंज ने प्ऴांक -195/Daraganj/14/8/24-25 िदनांक 14/08/2024 ( संलग्न) के माध्यम से अवगत कराया गया िक ्ऺाथर् ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िदनांक 23/12/2013 को रकम 45000/- दारागंज उपडाकघर में जमा ही नहीं िकया गया। साथ ही उपडाकपाल दारागंज ्षारा अपने प्ऴांक Corr/Daraganj SO/2024 िदनांक 28/08/2024 (संलग्न) के माध्यम से अवगत कराया गया िक िदनांक 23/12/2013 को मूल्य 45000/-(Rs 10000x4+Rs 5000) की कोई भी रा्ि्र ीय बचत प्ऴ ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी के नाम से दारागंज उपडाकघर ्षारा जारी नहीं िकया गया। जबिक िदनांक 24/12/2013 को ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी के नाम से Rs 10000 के 03 सिटिफके ट एवं िदनांक 30/12/2013 को ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी के नाम से Rs 45000/- (Rs 10000x4+Rs 5000) के सिटिफके ट जारी िकए गए थे। उल्लेिखत है िक ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िदनांक 24/12/2013 एवं िदनांक 30/12/2013 को ्वय िकए गए सभी रा्ि्र ीय बचत प्ऴों (Rs 10000x7+Rs 5000x1) का भुगतान िदनांक 01/01/2024 को अपने बचत खाता संख्या 010022671022 में ्ऺाप्त कर िलया है। उपडाकपाल दारागंज से ्ऺाप्त जानकारी के आधार पर कायार्लय ्ऺवर अधी्षक डाकघर, ्वमांक ्ऺयागराज NSC/KVP/Samanya/2024-25 Dated 11/13.09.2024 (संलग्न) के माध्यम से ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी को सूिचत भी िकया जा चुका है। मण्डल, ्ऺयागराज अपने ्षारा प्ऴ उ्व िववरणों से यह स्प्ि होता है िक ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा अपने िशकायती प्ऴों में उल्लेिखत िदनांक 28/12/2013 को ्वय िकए गए दस वषर्य रा्ि्र ीय बचत प्ऴों (10000 मूल्य के 4 सिटिफके ट व 5000 मूल्य के 1 सिटिफके ट) का व्व्ि ही गलत है। ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िदनांक 23/12/2013 को कोई भी सिटिफके ट नहीं ्वय िकए गए थे। इसी कारण से ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िकसी भी सिटिफके ट की छाया्ऺित अथवा सिटिफके ट नंबर नहीं ्ऺदान िकया जा पा रहा है। अतः ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी की िशकायत का कोई भी औिचत्य नहीं है। उल्लेिखत है िक ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा बार- बार इसी संबंध में िशकायती प्ऴ भेजे गए, 4 WRIC No. 8790 of 2025 िजनका जवाब में यह जानकारी उन्हे ्ऺेिषत की गयी। तदुपरान्त भी ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा माननीय उच्च न्यायालय इलाहाबाद में िबना िकसी आधार के अकारण यह िरट िपटीशन दािखल की गयी, जो िक खािरज करने योग्य है।"
7. It appears from the above that according to post office record, there is no evidence of deposit of Rs. 45,000/- by the petitioner at the post office on 23.12.2013. The original register was produced on the last date and counsel for the petitioner fairly admits that there is no entry of issuance of any NSC in favour of the petitioner on the said date.
8. The endorsement of the official of the post office on the application of the petitioner whereby the said application was forwarded to the concerned post office for issue of duplicate NSC on which reliance is being placed by counsel for the petitioner, cannot be accepted as evidence of the petitioner having deposited Rs. 45,000/- with the post office, nor evidence of the case of the petitioner that in fact NSC of any such amount was issued in favour of the petitioner on 23.12.2013. We are also unable to accept the submission that the said endorsement was made after due enquiry. On the other hand, it is apparent that the aforesaid endorsement was made in a routine manner, upon the application being filed for issuance of duplicate NSC. We are persuaded to take the above view in view of the categorical stand taken by the respondents, supported by the original records that NSC of the aforesaid amount was not issued in favour of the petitioner on 23.12.2013.
9. Undoubtedly, the petitioner was issued NSC for the same amount on
24.12.2013 and which is duly admitted to the respondents as well. For the said NSC, the maturity amount has already been credited to the account of the petitioner.
10. In absence of any evidence by the petitioner to prove purchase of NSC of Rs. 45,000/- on 23.12.2013, we find no merit in the instant petition.
11. The petition is accordingly dismissed. September 19, 2025 Jaideep/- (Arun Kumar,J.) (Manoj Kumar Gupta,J.) JAIDEEP BANERJEE High Court of Judicature at Allahabad
1. Heard Sri Alok Tripathi for the petitioner and Sri Ravi Prakash Singh on behalf of the respondents.
2. The case of the petitioner is that he purchased five National Saving Certificates (NSCs) with maturity period of ten years. Four certificates were of the denomination of Rs. 10,000/- each and one of Rs. 5,000/-. The deposit has matured on 23.12.2023. The petitioner claims to have filed an undated application before the Sub Postmaster, Daraganj, Prayagraj, stating that he invested money in NSC on 23.12.2013 and which has matured on 23.12.2023. The aforesaid certificates have got misplaced. He requested for issuance of duplicate copies as the original was not traceable. There is an endorsement on the said application, which reads as - "Forwarded to PM AD Ktcy for issue duplicate NSC". It does not bear any signature.
3. The case of the petitioner is that however, duplicate certificates were not issued to him. On 29.6.2024, Sub Postmaster, P.S. Kutchery, Prayagraj, sent a communication to him requiring him to furnish Indemnity Bond, Purchase Application, Duplicate Fees and Pay Slip of Guarantor. On 11.9.2024, Senior Superintendent of Post Offices, Prayagraj Division, Prayagraj sent a communication to the petitioner in reference to his request for issue of duplicate NSCs dated 23.12.2013. It is stated that as per report of Daraganj Post Office dated 28.08.2024, no 2 WRIC No. 8790 of 2025 NSC, as claimed by the petitioner, was issued in his favour on
23.12.2013. In fact, three other NSCs, each of denomination Rs. 10,000/- were issued on 24.12.2013 and five NSCs of total sum of Rs. 45,000/- were issued on 30.12.2013. The maturity amounts against these certificates have already been transferred to the saving bank account of the petitioner. It is also stated that as per report obtained and as per ledger copy attached by Sub Postmaster, Daraganj along with his letter dated
28.8.2024, it is clear that in pursuance of purchase application dated
30.12.2013, NSC was issued for a sum of Rs. 45,000/- in the name of the petitioner and Kiran Tiwari and the maturity value thereof was duly paid on 01.01.2024. The petitioner thereafter seems to have filed repeated applications for issuance of duplicate certificates and again Postmaster, Prayagraj Kty. HQ by communication dated 17.1.2025, informed the petitioner that as per records of the post office, no such amount was deposited by the petitioner for issue of NSC as claimed by him nor any such NSC's were issued, therefore, it would not be possible to accede to his request. Aggrieved thereby, the instant writ petition has been filed, praying for a writ of mandamus commanding respondent no. 6 to issue duplicate NSCs in favour of the petitioner for a sum of Rs. 45,000/-.
4. On 24.4.2025, a Co-ordinate Bench passed the following order: - "Mr. Alok Tripathi, learned advocate appears on behalf of petitioner and submits, his client seeks issuance of duplicate National Savings Certificate regarding deposit of Rs. 45,000/-. He refers his client's letter disclosed at page 16 bearing endorsement, he submits, made by respondent no. 7. The endorsement says, inter alia, for issue of said 'certificate'. Mr. Ravi Prakash Singh, learned advocate appears on behalf of respondents and submits, there was no deposit made of Rs. 45,000/-. Respondent no. 7 will produce the register bearing record of such Saving Certificates issued between 22nd December to 24th December, 2013, for us to peruse and verify, whether a sum of Rs. 45,000/- was deposited against a certificate issued on those dates. We have directed aforesaid dates on petitioner's submission that the deposit was made on 23rd December, 2013, though there are disclosures, wherein petitioner said deposit was on 23rd December, 2013. List on 20th May, 2025 as fresh." 3 WRIC No. 8790 of 2025
5. It appears that in pursuance of the said order, the original register containing the details of NSCs issued by the post office was produced before the Court. Sri Alok Tripathi, counsel for the petitioner, was permitted to go through the register. The Co-ordinate Bench in its last order dated 20.5.2025 has recorded finding to the effect that Sri Alok Tripathi, counsel for the petitioner, after going through the register, concedes that no NSC was issued on 23.12.2013 (date wrongly mentioned in the said order as 29.12.2013, which fact is admitted by Sri Alok Tripathi, Advocate during course of arguments today).
6. Sri Ravi Prakash Singh, learned counsel appearing for the respondents, has placed on record the instructions received from Junior Superintendent of Post Office, Prayagraj Region, Prayagraj. A copy of the same has also been supplied to the other side. The relevant portion of the said instructions is as follows: - "्ऺकरण के संबंध में मंडलीय कायार्लय ्ऺयागराज ्षारा अपने प्ऴांक एनएससी/के वीपी/ सामान्य/2024-25 िदनांक 18.07.2024 (संलग्न) के माध्यम से उपडाकपाल दारागंज एवं पोस्ट मास्टर कचेहरी ्ऺधान डाकघर ्ऺयागराज से जानकारी मांगी गयी। िजसके ्ऺत्यु्तर में उपडाकपाल दारागंज ने प्ऴांक -195/Daraganj/14/8/24-25 िदनांक 14/08/2024 ( संलग्न) के माध्यम से अवगत कराया गया िक ्ऺाथर् ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िदनांक 23/12/2013 को रकम 45000/- दारागंज उपडाकघर में जमा ही नहीं िकया गया। साथ ही उपडाकपाल दारागंज ्षारा अपने प्ऴांक Corr/Daraganj SO/2024 िदनांक 28/08/2024 (संलग्न) के माध्यम से अवगत कराया गया िक िदनांक 23/12/2013 को मूल्य 45000/-(Rs 10000x4+Rs 5000) की कोई भी रा्ि्र ीय बचत प्ऴ ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी के नाम से दारागंज उपडाकघर ्षारा जारी नहीं िकया गया। जबिक िदनांक 24/12/2013 को ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी के नाम से Rs 10000 के 03 सिटिफके ट एवं िदनांक 30/12/2013 को ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी के नाम से Rs 45000/- (Rs 10000x4+Rs 5000) के सिटिफके ट जारी िकए गए थे। उल्लेिखत है िक ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िदनांक 24/12/2013 एवं िदनांक 30/12/2013 को ्वय िकए गए सभी रा्ि्र ीय बचत प्ऴों (Rs 10000x7+Rs 5000x1) का भुगतान िदनांक 01/01/2024 को अपने बचत खाता संख्या 010022671022 में ्ऺाप्त कर िलया है। उपडाकपाल दारागंज से ्ऺाप्त जानकारी के आधार पर कायार्लय ्ऺवर अधी्षक डाकघर, ्वमांक ्ऺयागराज NSC/KVP/Samanya/2024-25 Dated 11/13.09.2024 (संलग्न) के माध्यम से ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी को सूिचत भी िकया जा चुका है। मण्डल, ्ऺयागराज अपने ्षारा प्ऴ उ्व िववरणों से यह स्प्ि होता है िक ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा अपने िशकायती प्ऴों में उल्लेिखत िदनांक 28/12/2013 को ्वय िकए गए दस वषर्य रा्ि्र ीय बचत प्ऴों (10000 मूल्य के 4 सिटिफके ट व 5000 मूल्य के 1 सिटिफके ट) का व्व्ि ही गलत है। ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िदनांक 23/12/2013 को कोई भी सिटिफके ट नहीं ्वय िकए गए थे। इसी कारण से ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा िकसी भी सिटिफके ट की छाया्ऺित अथवा सिटिफके ट नंबर नहीं ्ऺदान िकया जा पा रहा है। अतः ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी की िशकायत का कोई भी औिचत्य नहीं है। उल्लेिखत है िक ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा बार- बार इसी संबंध में िशकायती प्ऴ भेजे गए, 4 WRIC No. 8790 of 2025 िजनका जवाब में यह जानकारी उन्हे ्ऺेिषत की गयी। तदुपरान्त भी ्शी महेश चन््श ितवारी ्षारा माननीय उच्च न्यायालय इलाहाबाद में िबना िकसी आधार के अकारण यह िरट िपटीशन दािखल की गयी, जो िक खािरज करने योग्य है।"
7. It appears from the above that according to post office record, there is no evidence of deposit of Rs. 45,000/- by the petitioner at the post office on 23.12.2013. The original register was produced on the last date and counsel for the petitioner fairly admits that there is no entry of issuance of any NSC in favour of the petitioner on the said date.
8. The endorsement of the official of the post office on the application of the petitioner whereby the said application was forwarded to the concerned post office for issue of duplicate NSC on which reliance is being placed by counsel for the petitioner, cannot be accepted as evidence of the petitioner having deposited Rs. 45,000/- with the post office, nor evidence of the case of the petitioner that in fact NSC of any such amount was issued in favour of the petitioner on 23.12.2013. We are also unable to accept the submission that the said endorsement was made after due enquiry. On the other hand, it is apparent that the aforesaid endorsement was made in a routine manner, upon the application being filed for issuance of duplicate NSC. We are persuaded to take the above view in view of the categorical stand taken by the respondents, supported by the original records that NSC of the aforesaid amount was not issued in favour of the petitioner on 23.12.2013.
9. Undoubtedly, the petitioner was issued NSC for the same amount on
24.12.2013 and which is duly admitted to the respondents as well. For the said NSC, the maturity amount has already been credited to the account of the petitioner.
10. In absence of any evidence by the petitioner to prove purchase of NSC of Rs. 45,000/- on 23.12.2013, we find no merit in the instant petition.
11. The petition is accordingly dismissed. September 19, 2025 Jaideep/- (Arun Kumar,J.) (Manoj Kumar Gupta,J.) JAIDEEP BANERJEE High Court of Judicature at Allahabad