Highlight the major provisions of the Post Office Bill, 2023. Do you think that despite the government's promise to update the Colonial law, it keeps the most draconian provisions.

डाकघर विधेयक, 2023 के प्रमुख प्रावधानों पर प्रकाश डालें। क्या आपको लगता है कि औपनिवेशिक कानून को अद्यतन करने के सरकार के वादे के बावजूद, यह सबसे कठोर प्रावधानों को बरकरार रखता है।

GS Paper II - Government Policies

Model Answer: 

The Post Office network today has become a vehicle for delivery of different citizen-centric services, which necessitated the repeal and enactment of a new law. The Post Office Bill, 2023 repeals the Indian Post Office Act, 1898.  

The Bill provides for matters related to the functioning of the Post Office. Major provisions are-

1. Exclusive privileges of the central government:  The Bill states that the Post Office will have the exclusive privilege of issuing postage stamps. However, the Bill does not contain the exclusive privilege of conveying letters by post, as well as incidental services such as receiving, collecting, sending, and delivering letters
2. While the 1898 Act had focused only on mail services, the new Bill authorised the Director General of Postal Services to make regulations related to activities necessary for providing various such other services as the central government may prescribe, and to fix charges of them.
3. The new Bill provides the central government “standards for addressing on the items, address identifiers and usage of post codes”. 
4. This provision will have a far-reaching impact as the physical address may be replaced by a digital code using geo-spatial coordinates to identify a specific premise. 
5. Powers to intercept shipments:  The Act allows for the interception of a shipment being transmitted through the post on the occurrence of any public emergency, or in the interest of public safety or tranquillity.  

Bill retains some draconian and colonial provisions such as-

• Section 10 exempts the Post Office and its officer from “any liability by reason of any loss, mis-delivery, delay, or damage in course of any service provided by the Post Office,” except such liability as may be prescribed. 
• The 1898 Act too exempted the government from liability
• 2023 Bill removes all penalties and offences under the 1898 Act. 
• For example, offences committed by post office officials such as misconduct, fraud, and theft, among others, have been deleted entirely.
• The 2023 Bill, for the first time, regulates private courier services by bringing it under its ambit. It has also widened the ambit of the law in order to intercept and detain any postal article, as opposed to just letters.

Hence, a brief analysis of the provisions of the bill highlights that eliminating the burden of accountability and lack of clarity on the provisions that allows the Centre to intercept, open, or detain any item are not in line with the government's promise to update the Colonial law.

Answer Approach: 

Key demand of the Question : while mentioning the major provisions, give a critical analysis of Post Office Bill, 2023

Introduction:  why new bill.

Body Part: 

Mentioning the major provisions.

Explain how these provisions have been criticised on the grounds of being arbitrary and unreasonable.

Eg. Bill contains provisions that allows the Centre to intercept, open, or detain any item, and deliver it to customs authorities. And eliminating the burden of accountability

Conclusion: Need for opening the debate on the Bill.

For more content please refer: prsindia.org/billtrack/prs-products/prs-bill-summary-4250