New Delhi: On Monday, the Lok Sabha successfully passed the Post Office Bill, 2023, amid protests from the Opposition. Following its clearance in the Rajya Sabha on December 4, the Bill was introduced into the Lok Sabha last Wednesday. The initial introduction of the Bill took place in the Upper House on August 10 during the Monsoon session.
The 2023 Bill aims to revoke the 125-year-old Indian Post Office Act of 1898, introducing new provisions that grant the Centre the authority to intercept or detain any item. Notably, the new Bill eliminates Section 4 from the old Act, which had granted the Centre the exclusive privilege of conveying by post. This exclusivity had already diminished by the 1980s with the emergence of private courier services.
During the discussion, Minister of State for Communications, Devusinh Chauhan, emphasized the significance of the 170-year-old department, stating, “Today, through 1.64 lakh post offices, our government has provided every village, every home, and every individual with citizen-centric services. The Postal Department is offering 90+ citizen-centric services to the people.”
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