Bhubaneswar: A postmaster in Bhadrak district in Odisha was suspended on Tuesday after thousands of undelivered mails, with some dating back to 2004, were found in the post office.

Jagannath Puhan, postmaster of Odhanga branch, was suspended after an enquiry found him “guilty of negligence an dereliction of duty”.

The mails were discovered accidentally by schoolchildren, who wandered into the abandoned building from where the post office previously operated, reported Hindustan Times.

Soon, villagers got to know about the discovery, which was brought to the attention of authorities concerned. “I have suspended him after it was found that he (Puhan) had committed gross dereliction of duty as well as breach of trust.

Further disciplinary action, including dismissal, would be taken after inquiry,” said Sarbeswar Mishra, superintendent of Bhadrak postal circle.

Much of the undelivered letters were from the Life Insurance Corporation, several private and state-owned insurance firms, mails to the members of Parliament, postcards and other official mails, said Mishra.

But old admit cards for examinations conducted by the Staff Selection Commission and the Union Public Service Commission several years ago were also found.

A post official said that Puhan delivered registered letters, money orders, speed posts, and Aadhaar cards as records have to be maintained for them. But he threw ordinary letters in the abandoned building. Admitting to the offence, Puhan said he didn’t deliver the letters due to ill-health.

“For several years I could not walk properly and was not in a condition to deliver these letters,” he said.

SOURCE : http://www.bfirst.in/category/nation/odisha-postmaster-sacked-for-not-delivering-6000-letters-over-10-yrs-508984