I always try to keep an eye on working of Postal Department. When I went to Speed Post Center to book a Speed Post article on 18th April 2012, I came to know that in Ahmedabad that “One India One Rate” for Speed Post article has been increased from Rs. 25/- to Rs. 26/- and local Speed Post rate has been increased to Rs. 13/- from Rs. 12/-, because Service Tax has been increased to 12.36% from 10.30% on and from 1st April 2012. On inquiry I came to know that Vadodara and Nadiad had also increased the Speed Post rate to Rs. 26/- and Rs. 13/- respectively.
Local Speed Post Rate Rs. 12/-. (Service Tax charged at 10.30% Rs. 1.11)
‘One India One Rate’ Speed Post Rate Rs. 25/- (Service Tax charged at 10.30% (Rs. 2.33)
Local Speed Post Rate Rs. 12/-. (Service Tax charged at 12.36% Rs. 2.15)
‘One India One Rate’ Speed Post Rate Rs. 25/- (Service Tax charged at 12.36% (Rs. 3.36)
On 16th May 2012, I got another shock when the officer-in-duty in Speed Post Center at Ahmedabad told me that the increased rate on Local Speed Post and “One India One Rate” has been rolled back on and from 14th May 2012.
Local Speed Post Rate Rs. 12/-. (Service Tax charged at 12.36% Rs. 1.32)
‘One India One Rate’ Speed Post Rate Rs. 25/- (Service Tax charged at 12.36% (Rs. 2.75)
In the mean time I came to know from my friends that Mumbai, Kanpur, Coimbatore and Jabalpur have also increased the rates. But Kolkata, New Delhi, Akola, Dhanbad, Chennai, Pune, Gurgaon has not increased the Speed Post Charges for the above referred classes.
The Director Philately, New Delhi under RTI application wrote vide letter no. 26-02/2012-BD&MD dated 07.06.2012 that local Speed Post Charges and “One India One Rate” charges never increased. They are still Rs. 12/- and Rs. 25/- respectively.
Now the question arises- how India Post has charged more from certain post offices? And if the tariff is never increased, is India Post going to return the excess money charged by them?
This is an interesting history and readers of this article start digging their Speed Post mail. I am sure they can add new names of Post Offices who have charged Rs. 13/- for Local Speed Post and Rs. 26/- for “One India One Rate.”
While studying the above excess charging I found that on 8.5.2012, Tajnapeth P.O. of Akola has charged Service Tax of Rs. 3.09 on Rs. 35/- Speed Post Charges. This comes to 10.30% when Service Tax is 12.36%.
Another anomaly which I found is Ahmedabad RMS is showing Tax of Rs. 1.32 on Rs. 12/- when Laskar H. O. is showing Rs. 1.15 as Service Tax on Rs. 12/-.
Conclusion of the above article is – Be alert and keep your eyes open, you may find interesting lapses of India Post.
Article by : Mr. Ashok Kumar Bayanwala, Ahmedabad.
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