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2025:KER:66599

v) Whether it is necessary to interfere with the verdict under challenge? 

         (iv)     The order to be passed?
Point Nos.(i) to (iv)

         11.      In this case PW1 examined is P.K.Madhavan, the

Assistant Superintendent of Post Offices, Sub Division during 2003. According to him, he was given charge to inspect and do statistical verification of Post Offices as authorised by the Senior Superintendent, Kozhikode Division. He testified that Pulpally Sub Post Office is under the Sub Division of Kalpetta, within his jurisdiction. Sub Postmaster is the head of Sub Post office. Sub Post Officer is entrusted with the duties of day to day works to be controlled independently. The Superintendent was given power to keep cash upto a minimum and there was account for the Sub Post Office in Canara Bank. According to him, he received an error entry of the Head Post Master, Kalpetta and he visited the Pulpally Sub Post Office on 26.03.2003. During the said period, the Sub Post Master was Smt.Jayasree Rajkumar, the accused (he identified the accused at the dock). Thereafter he verified the account, cash and stamps in the presence of the accused and it was found that an amount of Rs.2,73,000/- shown as 2025:KER:66599 balance, as per the account book on the previous day, was in deficit and he informed the cash shortage to the Senior Superintendent, Kozhikode Division through phone. Later, Senior Superintendent of Post Officer, Kozhikode Division George along with his inspection party reached Pulpally Post Office to make the accused as a witness in the said investigation and then he informed about the shortage in cash to the accused. During inspection he found that the accused taken the money for her personal needs and he noted the balance as on 26.03.2003. According to him, the maximum amount the Sub Post Master could keep during the relevant period was Rs 50,000/- and the minimum was Rs.30,000/-. Excess amount would be deposited in Canara Bank and later in times of need the same could be withdrawn. He deposed that an iron cash safe was available in the Sub Post Office and joint custodians were there to manage the iron cash safe. He deposed further that Jose Pazhathottam (PW13) was one among the joint custodians and both of them have their own independent keys. He deposed about the error entry forwarded with regard to the Sub Post Office, Pulpally, addressed to Sri A.Gopalan and Kunjumuhammed, Head Postmasters. According to him, since Post Office, Pulpally is a 2025:KER:66599 Lower Selection Grade (LSG), the Sub Post Master would keep only Rs.30,000/-, the minimum amount. According to him, regarding this shortage, Sri Jaffar, Jose Pazhamthottam, the accused and Murali had given statements to him. Thereafter as directed by the Division Senior Superintendent he carried out investigation and conducted verification of transactions during the said period in detail and he prepared a report for the same as Ext.P1 and the same was signed by witnesses. He also deposed about the confession statement written by the accused as on 26.03.2003 in the presence of T.K.Ramakrishnan, Post Master, Pulpally, a witness, after identifying the same as Ext.P2 and he deposed that the handwriting in Ext.P2 was that of the accused. According to him, he had verified the account from 29.08.2001 to 26.03.2003 and the said documents were marked as Exts.P3, P4 and P5. He also deposed in detail in support of the prosecution.

12. PW2 examined in this case is Kunjumuhammed. He was the Post Master, Kalpetta from 21.03.2003 and he deposed about the procedure for keeping cash and stamps. PW3 examined in this case is Sri C.P George, the Senior Superintendent of Post Office, Postal Division, 2025:KER:66599 during 2003. His evidence is that he received Ext.P13, copy of letter addressed to SPM, Pulpally by the Kalpetta Post Master and he instructed PW1 to make a surprise inspection in Sub Post Office, Pulpally and he carried out surprise inspection on 26.03.2003 and reported deficiency of Rs.2,73,318/-. Then the same was brought to the notice of the accused. Soon she confessed that she had taken Rs.2,73,318/- for her personal use and no others have any role in this. According to him, when the accused was asked about her statement, she stated that accounts examined by PW2 were correct and she had taken the money for her personal use. According to PW3, admitting these facts the accused given Ext.P16 statement. Later K.Jaffar was posted as the Sub Postmaster. He had given evidence regarding taking up of charge by Jaffar etc. On his inspection he found that Jose Pazhathottam (PW13) kept the key of the iron safe without locking the same in the drawer of his table and the same was admitted by PW13 and by the accused in her Ext.P16 confession statement. He also deposed that disciplinary action was taken against Jose in this regard.