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Dear BSNL, Kalam sir died in July. Please stop sending him notices

Speed News Desk | Updated on: 13 February 2017, 11:48 IST

Government-run agencies seem to be running into all kinds of embarrassing situations. Yesterday, the Press Information Bureau or PIB tweeted out an obviously photo-shopped picture of Prime Minister Narendra Modi which led to some hilarious trolling on social media. Today, Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited or BSNL decided to poop a blooper; they sent an outstanding telephone bill notice to late president APJ Abdul Kalam.

Read more: Why, oh why did PIB do this to Prime Minister Narendra Modi?!

When he was alive, the former President used to reside in Kerala Raj Bhawan in Thiruvananthapuram during his visits. He would often stay in one of the suite rooms of the Raj Bhawan and this bill is from the time of an unspecified two-day visit. Issued on 18 November 2015, the notice 'advises' the late scientist to pay up the overdue bill of Rs 1029 or 'face revenue recovery action.'

This cringe-worthy tale doesn't end here. BSNL also directed the Thiruvananthapuram region revenue recovery officer to seize Kalam's movable and unmovable properties if he failed to clear the dues. What is even more unbelievable is that the region accounts officer has unthinkingly signed this notice.

And as usual, any government goof up is followed by an 'inquiry.' A senior BSNL officer told Hindustan Times, "We don't know how it happened. Even if he was a guest at the Raj Bhawan suite, the bill should have gone to the Raj Bhawan account. We have started an internal inquiry into this."Dear BSNL, in future, avoid sending notices to presidents long gone. It's slightly insensitive.

First published: 4 December 2015, 6:56 IST