account office enclosed in a protecting cover or bag, as the case may require. If the article is not a registered article, the protecting cover or bag should be registered on service before it is despatched to the account office. 31. Treatment of articles containing goods, the export of which is specially prohibited. – If an article posted at any place in India and addressed to a foreign country is actually found, while in course of transmission by post, to contain anything, the export of which either generally or to that particular destination, is prohibited, it should be endorsed “contains Prohibited (name of prohibited article)” and sent to the account office for disposal. 32. Distribution of advertisements etc., on behalf of the public prohibited.Trade circulars and advertisements are sometimes sent by packet post addressed to branch postmasters or postmen in the hope that they may be delivered by the Branch postmasters or postmen to the local residents. It should be clearly understood that branch postmasters or postmen cannot be allowed to distribute advertisements, hand bills or notices of any kind on behalf of the public in connection with their delivery duties and all such circulars and advertisements that may be received should be refused. 33. Facsimile impression of signature to be accepted as signature in certain cases. – In all cases, where, under the rules of the Post Office, a person is required to sign a receipt or an acknowledgement for a postal article delivered or to affix, his signature to any other document with the posting or delivery of a postal article, or to a postal article itself, the facsimile impression of his signature to any other document or article, made by means of a stamp, should be accepted as a sufficient compliance with the rule; provided, of course that there is no reason to suspect that the stamp has been misused. Note 1. – This rule does not apply to the signing of documents by the branch postmaster in his official capacity. Facsimile stamps for such a purpose are not allowed. Note 2. – This rule does not apply to the signing of money order vouchers and receipts and acknowledgements for insured articles. Facsimile stamp should not be accepted on such vouchers receipts and acknowledgement. 34. Thumb-impressions of illiterate person. – (1) In all cases in which registered or insured articles are delivered to illiterate persons or in which money is paid to such persons on account of money orders; savings bank withdrawals, pay, wages, contingent charges or for any other purpose the addressee’s or payee’s thumb-impression, seal or other mark should whenever practicable, be taken on the proper document (receipt, acknowledgement, money order, application for withdrawal, warrant of payment, acquittance roll, etc.). Note 1. – In the case of a registered article, the addressee’s thumb impression, seal or other mark should be attested by the postman or village postman, who delivers the article, while in the case of an insured article or a money order, the addressee’s or payee’s thumb-impression, seal or other mark should be attested by the signature of a resident
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