SB-ORDER NO.

17/2008

NO. 108-10/2006-SBPG
Government of India
Ministry of Communications & IT
Department of Posts
DaK Bhawan, Sansad Marg,
New Delhi- 11 0001. Date: 21.8. 2008
To
All Heads of Circles/Regions
Director General, APS, New Delhi.
Subject: Opening and operating of account by blind/visually impaired persons
independently-an amendment to Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981/ Post Office Time Deposit
Rules 1981 and procedure regarding,
Sir I Madam,
The undersigned is directed to say that in the existing Rule 4 of Post Office Savings Account Rules 1981
and Post Office Time Deposit Rules 1981, a blind person may open and operate account, through literate
agent nominated b\ him for the purpose In the rules for other type of accounts, there is neither a .provision
not a bar on opening and operating of account by blind/visually-impaired persons independently.
2 Ministry Of Finance, Department of Economic Affairs has decided to extend facility of
opening/operating any type of account to blind visually-impaired persons. For this. Rule 4 of Post. Office
Savings Account Rules 1981 has been amended by Win. of Finance vide GSR No. 478(£) dated
26,6 2008 (copy enclosed) and Rule 4 of Post Office TD Rules 1981 vide GSR No.479{E) dated
2^:6,2008 (copy enclosed). For other type of accounts, as there is no bar on opening / operating of account
by a blind visually impaired person independently in the rules, Department of Posts has been asked to
frame
procedure / instructions for opening and operation of accounts by blind/visually impaired persons
independently
3 Guidelines tor opening and operating of accounts by blind / visually-impaired persons
independently are enclosed for information, guidance and further necessary action, it may be
ensured that no blind/visually impaired person may be denied the right of opening/operating any
type of account under any Small Savings.
4 It is therefore requested that this nay be brought to the notice of all poet offices for
information and necessary guidance.
This issues with the approval of DDG (FS). Yours faithfully

(Kawal Jit Singh)

ASP(Savings Bank/Certificates)
DA-Three Copy to -
1. Director (Fgn.Post & Mkt) O/o CP’WIG T.N Circle.
2 Director of Audit (P&T}; Delhi
3 All Directors/Dy Directors of Accounts, Postal
4. Director. Postal Staff College, Ghaziabad
5. All Directors, Pasta! Training Centers
6. DOG (FS)/ DDG(VIG)US&FA
7. ADG(BS)
8 All Accounts Officers ICO(SBV A O (FS) Postal Directorate.
10. All recognized Staff Unions and Associations
11. Mm of Finance (DEA) NS-H section. North Block, New Delhi,
12. PS to Member (I & FS)
13. PPS to Secretary (P)

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PROCEDURE FOR OPENINGAND OPERATING OFACCOUNT BY BUND/VISUALLY
IMPAIRED/VISUALLY IMPAIRED PERSONS INDEPENDENTLY
1. Now as per amended rules, a blind/visually-impaired person can open and Savings, RD,
MIS, TD, SCSS and PPF accounts in his/her name independently.
2. Procedure for opening and operating of account.
(ij The blind/visually-impaired person will not attend the counter for opening as well as
operating the account. He will directly approach the Postmaster/Sub Postmaster/Branch Postmaster
who will help him in filling forms and personally take cash for deposit and hand over to counter PA.
Introduction of the depositor in case of savings account as prescribed in the rules will be taken as
usual.
(ii) If a blind/visually impaired literate person attends the post office for opening of
account and he/she is in a position- to sign uniformly, he may put his/her signature on the
account opening form (SB-3), Specimen Signature Book and Pay-in-slip in the presence of Postmaster/
Sub postmaster/Branch Postmaster who will attest the signatures.
(m) if an illiterate blind/visually impaired person attends the post office for opening of account,
his/her thumb impression should be obtained on aH relevant forms in a usual manner as in the case
of an illiterate person.
(iv) A Cheque-book may also be issued to literate blind/visually impaired person
(v) Other USUAL formalities as prescribed in POSB Manual Vol-l may also be adopted
while opening of account by a blind/visually-impaired person.
(vi) Whenever, a blind/visually impaired illiterate person attends the post office for withdrawal,
procedure prescribed in case of withdrawal by an illiterate depositor as mentioned in Rule 33 of POSB
Manual Vol-l should be followed.
(VII) A blind/visually-impaired person can also open a joint account with a second blind/visually
impaired or non-blind/visually-impaired person as per normal procedure
(viii) For all cash withdrawals, the blind/visually-impaired person should be advised to come in
person only. Cash payments to a blind/visually impaired either literate or illiterate should
always be made in the presence of a respectable witness who is personally acquainted with
the depositor and known to post office who will attest signatures/thumb impression of the
depositor on the application side and certify on the warrant of payment the amount actually paid
to the blind/visually-impaired depositor.
(ix) Only in exceptional cases the Postmaster may allow payment through messenger In
such cases, the Postmaster will satisfy himself that the reasons given by messenger regarding
inability of the depositor lo attend the post office are genuine and signature or Tl of messenger
should be got 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 has been affixed in my
presence”
(x) A rubber stamp indicating, “account holder is blind/visually impaired” should be
affixed on ‘all the relevant forms i e SB-3, specimen signature book, pay-in-slip withdrawal
form, account closure form and Cheque book etc.
(xi) In case of transfer of account, the normal procedure prescribed for an illiterate person
may be followed

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