¹[(1)] The Central Government may authorise the issue, in such form as may be suitable, of money orders, to be called postal orders or by such other designation as may be deemed appropriate, for certain fixed amounts, and may make rules as to the rates of commission to be charged thereon and the manner in which, and conditions subject to which, they may be issued, paid and cancelled.

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³[(2) The Central Government may also make rules prescribing the maximum limit of amount up to which postal orders may be issued from time to time].

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(1) The Central Government may provide for the remitting of small sums of money through the Post Office by means of money orders, and may make rules as to such money orders.

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(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may prescribe--

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(a) the limit of amount for which money orders may be issued;

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(b) the period during which money orders shall remain current; and

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(c) the rates of commission or the fees to be charged on money orders or in respect thereof.

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(1) Subject to such conditions as the Central Government may, by rules made under section 43, prescribe in respect of the levy of additional rates of commission or fees or any other matters, a person remitting money through the Post Office by means of a money order may require that the amount of the order, if not paid to the payee, be repaid to him, or be paid to such person other than the original payee as he may direct.

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(2) If neither the payee nor the remitter of a money order can be found, and if within the period of one year from the date of issue of the order no claim is made by such payee or remitter, the amount of such order shall not be claimable from the Government.

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(1) Where arrangements ¹[made] with the United Kingdom, or with any British possession ²[ ³*** or foreign country are in force], for the issue and payment through the Post Office of money orders between ⁴[India] and the United Kingdom or such possession, ⁵[ ⁶*** or country], the Central Government may make rules to give effect to such arrangements.

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(2) In particular and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, such rules may prescribe--

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(a) the manner in which, and the conditions subject to which, such orders may be issued and paid in ⁴[India]; and

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(b) the rates of commission to be charged thereon.

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If any person, without reasonable excuse, the burden of proving which shall lie on him, neglects or refuses to refund--

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(a) any amount paid to him in respect of a money order by an officer of the Post Office in excess of what ought to have been paid to him in respect thereof, or

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(b) the amount of a money order paid by an officer of the Post Office to him instead of to some other person to whom it ought to have been paid,

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such amount shall be recoverable by an officer of the Post Office authorised by the Post Master General in this behalf from the person so neglecting or refusing as if it were an arrear of land revenue due from him.¹

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No suit or other legal proceeding shall be instituted against ¹[the Government] or any officer of the Post Office in respect of--

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(a) anything done under any rules made by the Central Government under this Chapter; or

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(b) the wrong payment of a money order caused by incorrect or incomplete information given by the remitter as to the name and address of the payee, provided that, as regards incomplete information, there was reasonable justification for accepting the information as a sufficient description for the purpose of identifying the payee; or

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(c) the payment of any money order being refused or delayed by, or on account of, any accidental neglect, omission or mistake, by, or on the part of, an officer of the Post Office, or for any other cause whatsoever, other than the fraud or willful act or default of such officer; or

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(d) any wrong payment of a money order after the expiration of one year from the date of the issue of the order; ²[or]

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(e) any wrong payment or delay in payment of a money order beyond the limits of ³[India] by an officer of any Post Office, not being one established by the Central Government.)

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