According to the complainant, Ravisankar of nearby Nekraje, he had booked the parcel to be sent by air on April 6, 1998, paying Rs 3,557 as parcel charges.

When the parcel did not reach the addressee within the required time of eight days, the complainant approached the postal authorities who failed to give him a proper reply.

The parcel reached its destination in October, six months after it was shipped.

Though a complaint was lodged before the Postal Superintendent, no action was taken, following which the complainant moved the petition against the Communications Secretary, Postal Superintendent and the Postmaster concerned, demanding a compensation of Rs 50,000.

The Postal Superintendent, who appeared before the forum, stated that the parcel was sent the sameday it was booked. However, as the parcel and supporting documents did not have the air-mail marking, it was sent by ship.

The forum, in its recent order, held that the air-mail booking was done by the Postal Department by collecting necessary charges and it was the Department's duty to deliver the goods in time, and ordered a compensation of Rs 13,557 with 15 per cent interest and Rs 50 towards expenses.