Receipt of Small envelopes - Increase in volume of mails in Parcel Hub and leakage of revenue

भारतीयडाकविभाग

DEPARTMENT OF POSTS, INDIA

मुख्यपोस्टमास्टरजनरलकार्यालय, तमिलनाडुपरिमंडल

OFFICE OF THE CHIEF POSTMASTER GENERAL, TAMILNADU CIRCLE, CHENNAI-600002

To

The Postmasters General

Chennai City / Central / Southern / Western Regions

Chennai / Tiruchirappalli / Madurai / Coimbatore

600 002 / 620001 / 625 002 / 641 030

The SSRM / SSRM / SRM

Chennai Stg Dn / Airmail Stg Dn / RMS M Dn

Chennai - 600008 / 600016 / 600008

ML / 108 - 136 / Parcel Operations / 25 - 26 dated at Chennai 600002 the 10.12.2025

Sub: Receipt of Small envelopes - Increase in volume of mails in Parcel Hub and leakage of revenue - reg.

*******

A kind reference is invited to the subject above.

It is reported by field units that atter rationalization of domestic products and the Registration facility became a value added service for Speed Post items from 01.10.2025, considerable no. of small letter / envelopes (weighing less than 20 gm) are booked as India Post Parcel category. This has led to the surge in volume of mails handled at Parcel Hubs. Further there is difficulty in handling these small letters along with parcels which may lead to missing / detention of articles in bags itself.

Further, booking small letters / envelopes as parcels leads to leakage of revenue to the Department.

The rulings governed for booking of parcels as per PO regulations 2024 is reproduced below:

Rule 96 (2):

96. India post parcel. -

(2) Any item shall be treated as an India post parcel, if it complies with at least one of the following conditions, namely: -

(a) which weighs more than 500 grams; or

(b) which has minimum dimensions of:

(i) 100 mm in roll form, sum of length and twice diameter 170 mm;

(ii) 140 × 90 mm in other than roll form;

With a tolerance of + 2 mm; and

(c) whose length does not exceed 1.5 metres and the length and girth combined does not exceed 3 meters; and

(d) whose gross weight does not exceed 35 kgs or volumetric weight as defined;

Provided that where the item is not a letter item as defined in regulation sub-regulation (1) of 87 shall be declared as "merchandise" by the customer.

# Rule 87 (1):

87. Letters .- (1) Letter is a communication in the nature of current and personal correspondence" addressed to a person transmitted by post with pre-payment of postage.

In this regard, I am directed by the Competent Authority to request you to issueinstructions to all concerned to strictly comply with the postal regulations while booking parcels to avoid leakage of revenue and to prevent handling issues.

सहा पोस्टमास्टर जनरल (मेल्स और एम्एम्यू)

Assistant Postmaster General (Mails & MMU)

मुख्यपोस्टमास्टरजनरलकार्यालय

O/o the Chief Postmaster General

तनपरिमंडल/T.N. Circle, चेन्नई /Chennai - 600 002