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discretion, obtain a fresh specimen signature for his record, if in his opinion this is necessary to avoid inconvenience to the depositor subsequently.

Note 3: - In an office where the Borrough’s Sensimatic Accounting Machine is in use, all the work to be performed by the ledger Assistant will be performed by the machinist.

Note 4: - In single handed sub offices the question of obtaining signature of second official will not arise. The SBCO should obtain the list of single handed sub offices from the Postmaster or the Divisional Superintendent for this purpose. In case of double handed sub offices when the second official goes on leave, the SPM will give a suitable remark to this effect on the application of withdrawal for the information of the head office/SBCO so that unnecessary objections are avoided.

(3) Withdrawals at Head Office: (a) Where instant counter service facility is available: See rule-36

(b) Where instant counter service is not available: (i) When an Counter Assistant has satisfied himself that the application for withdrawal has been properly prepared and signed and the signature of the depositor thereon has been satisfactorily compared with the specimen signature on record in the manner detailed in sub rule (2) above, the warrant of payment on the reverse of the application should be filled in and stamped. He will make an entry of the withdrawal in the pass book and the pass book should then be impressed with the date-stamp and transferred to the Ledger Assistant with the application for withdrawal.

Note: - The balance after transaction on the reverse of the cheque will be written by the Counter Assistant over his dated initials.

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(ii) The Ledger Assistant should check the entries in the pass book. He should verify the balance shown in the pass book with that in the ledger card and the application for withdrawal, make an entry of withdrawal in the ledger card enter in the pass book transactions, if any, relating to cheques etc. which have been posted in the ledger card but not in the pass book and make sure that the balance after

entry of all transactions in the pass book tallies with that in the ledger card. He should then sign in the ledger card and write the number of the binder on the withdrawal form. The pass book, the binder and the application for withdrawal should then be placed before the Postmaster.

(iii) The Postmaster should carefully scrutinise the application for withdrawal and see that it does not bear any erasures, overwriting or other suspicious corrections or alterations, that the Counter Assistant /- Ledger Assistant has/have signed below the signature of the depositor on the withdrawal form in token of having compared it with the specimen signature on record in case of withdrawals exceeding Rs. 500/- and that the receipt for the money below the warrant of payment has not already been signed. He will, then satisfy himself by a reference to the pass book, the ledger card and the application for withdrawal that the amount to be withdrawn is at the credit of the depositor, compare the entries in the pass book and the ledger card, sign the warrant and initial in the pass book and the ledger card. He will then make the entry of withdrawal in the Long Book. The pass book and the warrant of payment will be transferred to the Counter Assistant and the binder to the Ledger Assistant.

(iv) The Counter Assistant should require the depositor or his agent or messenger to sign the warrant of payment in acknowledgement of the amount and then compare his signature, with the signature of latter’s signature. If the signature is accepted the amount specified in the warrant should be paid and the pass book returned to the person who presented it.

(v) When payment is made to an illiterate depositor or illiterate messenger, his TI or mark must be attested by the signature of a respectable witness who is personally acquainted with him and known to the post office. The witness should, in addition, certify on the warrant of payment the amount actually paid to the illiterate depositor. There is no objection to the Postmaster or a Clerk (if the Postmaster or Clerk is not performing the duties of the savings bank Clerk) or a Postman or Village postman or a group D employee witnessing the mark or TI, provided that he is personally acquainted with the person TI or mark is attested. The Postmaster should see that the entries and attestation in such cases are clear and legible so that they can be easily checked.

Note : 1 – If an illiterate depositor has sent his application for withdrawal through a messenger, with this thumb impression or mark on the application duty attested by a respectable witness according to Note 3 under sub para 1, the Postmaster will make payment to the messenger after satisfying himself by such enquiries as he may think proper of the inability of the depositor to attend the post office personally and after getting the signature or thumb impression of the messenger on the warrant side attested by a witness known to the Post Office. The attestation should be in the following terms:-

“The payee is known to me and his signature/thumb impression/mark has been affixed in my presence”.

Note : 2 – Blind person should be treated as illiterate.

Note : 3 – Thumb impression mark of illiterate depositors who desire to open an account in POSB may be obtained on the application for opening an account (SB-3) by using printer’s ink, or magenta ink.

(4) Withdrawal on the basis of general power of attorney: (i) A person holding a power of attorney from the depositor can withdraw money from the depositor’s account. A power of attorney is a document where by one or more persons give authority to one or more persons to act on his or their behalf. It is a delegation of authority in writing by one person empowering another to act on his behalf. The giver of the authority is called the “Principal” and the recipient is called the “Constituted Attorney”. If the appointment is made general for certain acts, the deed is called “General Power of Attorney”. The constituted attorney generally on the death of the Principal or after the revocation of the power of attorney ceases to be the agent of the Principal.

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The attorney will sign the application for withdrawal and warrant of payment on behalf of the depositor. He should be required to add, below his signature on the application for withdrawal, the words “Duly Constituted Attorney for A.B. (Name of depositor)”. On receipt of the application of withdrawal alongwith the power of attorney the Postmaster should examine the power of attorney on the following points:-

(a) The deed is in writing and has been duly signed by the “Principal”.

(b) That the signature of the Principal on the deed tallies with the specimen signature kept with the Post office.

(c) That the Constituted Attorney is properly identified in the document.

(d) That the deed is properly stamped under Article 48 of the Stamp Act (as applicable to each state).

(e) That specific power to receive the money has been clearly given.

(f) That the deed has not been revoked or the Principal is not dead.

If the power of attorney is found in order and the constituted attorney is properly identified, the payment should be made. The Postmaster should record a certificate below the applicant’s signature on the form of withdrawal to the effect that the power of attorney was examined by him and found to be in order. Special care should be taken to see that the certificate has been recorded in clear and legible characters so that it can be easily checked. The first time a withdrawal is made from an account by such a person, his name should be noted at the head of the account in the ledger card by the Ledger Assistant. A specimen of his signature should be taken on the slip and pasted in the application form (SB-3) and certified copy of the power of attorney should be kept in a guard file for future reference.

An identification number or mark should be endorsed on the original power of attorney as well as on the copy, so that immediately on production of the original power of attorney on any subsequent occasion, if necessary, it can be easily identified. The original power of attorney should then be returned to the constituted attorney.

(ii) The Sub-Postmaster of a selection grade sub office will follow the procedure as prescribed for head office in para (i) above in such cases. He will prepare the certified copies of the power of attorney when the document is produced in connection with the first application for withdrawal. Two specimen signature slips may be obtained from the attorney. One copy of the power of attorney alongwith one specimen signature slip should be sent to the Head Office and other copy retained in the sub-office in a guard file for future reference. The original power of attorney, should then be returned to the constituted attorney. The name of the attorney should be noted at the top of the ledger page and specimen signature posted in the SS book by the side of the specimen signature of the depositor.

(iii) The Sub-Postmaster of a post office other than selection grade in which a similar withdrawal is sought should compare the signature of the depositor and get the attorney identified. He should then forward the power of attorney along with the specimen signature slip of the attorney to the Head Office where it will be examined and action taken as per para - (i) above. A copy of the document will be prepared and kept in a guard file duly certified to enable the Head Office to endorse a certificate on subsequent applications for withdrawals as prescribed in para (i) above. The original power of attorney will be returned to the SPM concerned. The SPM on receipt of the documents will make note of the name of the attorney at the top of the ledger page of the account for future reference. The original power of attorney will be returned to the attorney. As and when subsequent application for withdrawal is presented by the attorney, the application for withdrawal alongwith the pass book will be sent to the head office for

sanction. The payment of the withdrawal will be made after the receipt of warrant of payment and pass book duly sanctioned from the Head Office in the usual manner.

(5) Withdrawals at Sub-Offices : - Withdrawal from Departmental Sub Offices i.e withdrawal of amount not exceeding Rs. 2000/- from ED sub offices. (i) The Counter Assistant should satisfy himself that the application of withdrawal has been correctly filled in and the signature of the depositor on the application agrees with the specimen signature on record and sign below the signature of the depositor. The amount specified in it should then be entered by the counter assistant in the pass book as a withdrawal, warrant of payment should be filled in by him, and the pass book and the warrant should be impressed with the date stamp. He should make an entry in the ledger and sign in the relevant column.

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He should place the withdrawal form, pass book and the ledger before the sub-Postmaster who will verify the signature of the depositor and satisfy himself by reference to the pass book and also to the ledger that the amount to be withdrawn is at the credit of the depositor and then sign the warrant of payment. In the case of withdrawal exceeding Rs. 2000, the SPM should also compare the signature of the depositor on the application for withdrawal with the specimen signature on record and sign below the signature of the depositor. He should then check the entries in the ledger with those in the pass book, note the balance himself in the ledger, make a note in the long book and initial the documents. He should thereafter transfer the documents to the counter Assistant.

(ii) The counter Assistant should require the depositor or his agent or messenger to sign the warrant of payment in acknowledgement of the amount then compare his signature with the signature of the depositor on the application for withdrawal, or, if the payment is to be made to an agent or messenger, with the latter’s signature. If the signature is accepted, the amount specified in the warrant of payment should be paid and the pass book returned to the person who presented it. When the payment is made to illiterate depositor or illiterate messenger, the procedure prescribed in para 42(b)(v) above should be followed.

(iii) If the sub Postmaster has not sufficient funds in hands to enable him to pay at once the amount sought to be withdrawn, the application should be impressed with the date stamp and retained in the sub office. The sub Postmaster should take steps to obtain funds as soon as possible. In such cases, the pass book should be returned to the depositor and the latter should be informed of the date on which he should again call to receive the money.

(iv) The application for withdrawal should be kept in the custody of the sub Postmaster for one week from the date of receipt and if in the interval, the depositor refuses, or does not present himself for payment it should be forwarded to the head office duly entered in the list of documents, after drawing two cross lines on both the sides and passing appropriate remarks. The Postmaster will destroy the form after perusal and passing a remark “destroyed” in the list of documents.

Note :- In ED Sub Offices not more than one withdrawal in a day shall be allowed from any account.

(6) Withdrawal of amounts exceeding Rs. 2000 from Extra Departmental Sub Offices: - (i) A

receipt for the pass book in form SB-28 should be handed over to the depositor or his agent or messenger, as the case may be, after the application for withdrawal should be impressed with the date-stamp and forwarded with the pass book to the head office duly entered in the list of documents. The probable date on which the warrant of payment will be received from the head office should be noted on the receipt granted for the pass book and the depositor or his agent or messenger, as the case may be, should be asked to call on the date to receive the money.

(ii) When the depositor attends the office after the receipt of the warrant of payment and the pass book from the head office, the receipt granted to depositor should be taken back after getting the form of acknowledgement printed on the back of the receipt signed by the depositor. The receipt should be pasted to the office copy in the receipt book.

(iii) The depositor or his agent or messenger should be required to sign the warrant of payment in acknowledgement of the amount and this signature should be compared with the corresponding signature on the application for withdrawal. If the signature agrees, the amount specified in the warrant should be paid and the pass book returned to the depositor or his agent or messenger.

(iv) The entries in the sub office long book of amounts withdrawn should be totaled daily and daily total should be carried into the sub office account.

(7) Withdrawal at Branch Offices : - (i) A Branch Office is authorized to allow withdrawal of amount not exceeding Rs. 2000/- without obtaining prior sanction of its account office subject to the condition that not more than one withdrawal is allowed on any day from any account. If an amount exceeding Rs.2000 is to be withdrawn at a branch office, the application for withdrawal together with the pass book will be received by the account office entered on the reverse of the branch office daily account. On receiving the application and the pass book, the balance entered by the depositor in the application for withdrawal and given in the pass book should be compared with the balance in the ledger/ledger card and the signature of the depositor therein compared with specimen signature on record. The

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counter Assistant should sign below the depositor’s signature and the Sub-Postmaster/Ledger Assistant (where Head Post Office is account office) should also sign in the case of withdrawals exceeding Rs.2000 in token of having carried out the check. If the signature does not tally the Branch Postmaster should be instructed by entry on the warrant of payment that the attestation of the depositor’s signature should be obtained before making payment. In case a depositor has affixed his mark or thumb impression in place of signature, it should be verified by reference to the specimen signature book of application form/SS card that the depositor is actually illiterate.

(ii) The number of account, the amount sought to be withdrawn and the date of receipt of application for withdrawal for sanction should be entered in the register in form (SB-45). The warrant of payment should then be prepared and stamped by the Savings Bank Assistant and then transferred to the Postmaster (through the ledger Assistant in head office) together with the pass book and the register (SB-45). The ledger or ledger card, the warrant of payment and the pass book should then be placed before the Postmaster who should sign the warrant of payment after satisfying himself by reference to the ledger/ledger card and the pass book that the amount to be withdrawn is at the credit of the depositor and that necessary entries have been made in the register (SB-45). The warrant of payment together with the pass book should thereafter be made over to the sub account Assistant under receipt in the register (SB-45) who will forward the same to the branch office by first post entered in the branch office slip.

(iii) Warrants of payment for withdrawals at branch offices will be received at the account office with entry of details of the transaction on the reverse of the daily account. The Savings Bank Assistant should :-

(a) Compare the signature on the warrant of payment with that on the application for withdrawal and the specimen signatures of the depositor unless already done in the case of withdrawals of above Rs.2000 at the time of sanction of the application.

(b) Satisfy himself that the amount of the warrant of payment is charged against the item “SB Withdrawals” in the branch office daily account.

(c) Make an entry of transaction in the ledger.