A graduate student from north Kashmir’s Kupwara district was unable to appear in the three-year distance course’s final exam as India Post failed to deliver the study material sent to her by the university.
The student, Mumtaza Rashid, of the Hyderabad based Maulana Azad National Urdu University alleged that India Post’s Kupwara office received the study material on 13 December 2020 but returned it back to the Srinagar Office the following day itself, which she found out in March 2021.
“I have been visiting the post office since last year but to my surprise only yesterday I was told that the consignment has been returned back to Srinagar,” she said.
“The officials at the post office did not state the reason for the non-delivery of the book and returning back the consignment to Srinagar.” Rashid lives in the Kupwara town, just two kilometers from the post office.
Rashid came to know about the return of the parcel only after filing an application at the local Post Office demanding information on the parcel.
“As per the records available the article has been sent to Srinagar STG on 14/10/2020 vide pl bag no.CBQ5001007012 at S.No 03/03 dated same as per records and list. The said parcel was received on 13/10/2020. Enclosed Photostat of the list,” the written response reads.
Rashid accused employees of India Post’s Kupwara post office of “irresponsible behavior” that cost her an academic year as she couldn’t appear in the final exams. The working of India Post offices across Kashmir is doubtful.
The Kupwara post office, locals allege, has often refused to deliver parcels at the stated delivery addresses instead handing them over to individuals not authorized to receive the deliveries.
The Kupwara post office’s manager could not be reached for comments as calls on his official number were responded with an automated message stating that the number was out of service.
