IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE FOR THE STATE OF TELANGANA HON’BLE SRI JUSTICE NAGESH BHEEMAPAKA WRIT PETITION No. 35374 OF 2025

09.03.2026 Between:

Girigalla Srinivas ….. Petitioner And The Union of India, Rep. by its Secretary, Ministry of Communications, Department of Posts, New Delhi & others ….. Respondents

O R D E R :

Petitioner states that he is a Septuagenarian presently in an end-stage medical condition, bedridden and incapable of walking, travelling or personally appearing before any authority. He requires urgent access to his Fixed Deposit amounts maintained at GPO, Abids for life-saving medical treatment, nursing and hospital care. The deposits were opened under “Joint B Either or Survivor” mode permitting independent withdrawal by either holder. However, the deposits were frozen following an impersonation fraud committed by a third person who falsely projected herself as the petitioner’s wife.

1.1. Petitioner states that he maintains the following Fixed Deposits with GPO Abids under Joint B Either or Survivor mode with a total value of Rs.2,40,00,000/-: FD No. 020159710302 – Rs.50,00,000/-; FD No. 020159707818 – Rs.50,00,000/-; FD No. 020159707620 – Rs.50,00,000/-; FD No. 020159708447 – Rs.40,00,000/-; FD No. 020159708194 – Rs.50,00,000/-. It is stated that under Rule 87 of the Post Office Savings Bank Rules, 2019, in a Joint B account either holder is entitled to withdraw or close the deposit independently without requiring consent of the other holder. All the above deposits were funded exclusively by him from his Postal Savings Account using the sale proceeds realised from his ancestral property and that he urgently requires access to the funds for medical and personal care due to his present medical condition.

1.2. It is stated, a caretaker appointed to assist him impersonated herself as his wife, manipulated her Aadhaar identity details and illegally caused her name to be inserted in certain Fixed Deposit records. He reported the impersonation, illegal confinement, sedation and fraudulent interference with his financial records to the SHO and the Deputy Commissioner of Police through written complaints. Despite the complaints, the matter was kept under enquiry and no effective action was taken by the police authorities. Petitioner is also stated to have submitted written complaints to the Chief Postmaster, GPO Abids requesting removal of fraudulent entry made by the impersonator and seeking disclosure and release of the Fixed Deposit records.

1.3. Petitioner states that the GPO Abids authorities froze the Fixed Deposits and declined to provide copies of the relevant records. Their reply dated 13.11.2025 only confirmed the existence of the deposits and that they had been frozen. The continued freezing of deposits violates the provisions of the Post Office Savings Bank Rules, 2019 and infringes his rights under Articles 14, 21 and 300-A of the Constitution by preventing him from accessing his own funds during a critical medical condition. Petitioner is stated to have executed a valid Will distributing his estate between his two daughters Ms. Marie Solange Girigalla and Ms. Rebecca Girigalla. Under the Will, Ms. Marie Solange Girigalla is entitled to 50% undivided share in Chapel Road property bearing Nos. 5-9-176 and 5-9-176/1, share in the Madhavi Nagar house, 50% share in mutual fund investments and Time Deposits bearing Nos. 020159707818 and 020159710302 totalling Rs.1,00,00,000/-. Ms. Rebecca Girigalla is entitled to 50% undivided share in the Chapel Road property, half share in the Madhavi Nagar house, 50% share in mutual fund investments and Time Deposits bearing Nos. 020159707620, 020159708447 and

020159708194 totalling Rs.1,40,00,000/-.

1.4. Petitioner states that in the event of his death during the pendency of writ proceedings, the Fixed Deposit amounts must be preserved and distributed strictly in accordance with the Will executed by him, namely that FD Nos. 020159707818 and 020159710302 shall devolve upon