Clause 20: Undeliverable correspondence

(1) Undeliverable correspondence is returned to the country of origin and delivered to the sender on payment of charges due, if any. However, postcards (other than the registered) which do not bear the address of the sender are not returned. Unregistered printed papers (other than books) of no value are also not returned unless the sender has requested their return by a note on the address side in a language known in the country of destination.

(2) Undeliverable mail is normally returned by surface unless the sender has specifically requested for their return by air, in which case the air surcharge or combined charge, as the case may be, will be recovered from him at the time of redelivery of the article.

Note: Correspondence addressed to third parties care of diplomatic and consular services and returned by them as unclaimed, and correspondence for persons addressed to hotels, lodgings, or agencies of air or maritime companies and returned undeliverable, are treated as undeliverable correspondence.

(3) Correspondence originally posted in India and returned will be treated on delivery as follows:
(i) If originally prepaid to its first address, it will be delivered free of charge.
(ii) If originally unpaid or insufficiently paid to its first address, it will be charged as if it had come direct from the place of first destination to its new destination in India as unpaid or insufficiently paid correspondence.

(4) Insured letters which have not been delivered shall be sent back as soon as possible and at the latest within the period prescribed in clause 18.

(5) Undelivered items of the internal service shall be redirected for return to the sender only if they satisfy the conditions for their further conveyance.