THE INDIAN TELEGRAPH ACT, 1885 A CT N O . 13 OF 1885 1 [22nd July, 1885.] An Act to amend the law relating to Telegraphs in India. WHEREAS it is expedient to amend the law relating to telegraphs in India; It is hereby enacted as follows:— PART I PRELIMINARY 1. Short title, local extent and commencement.—(1) This Act may be called the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. 2 [(2) It extends to whole of India 3***.] (3) It shall come into force on the first day of October, 1885. 2. [Repeal and savings.] Rep. by the Repealing Act, 1938 (1 of 1938), s. 2 and the Schedule. 3. Definitions.—In this Act, unless there is something repugnant in the subject or context,— [(1) “Fund” means the Universal Service Obligation Fund established under sub-section (1) of section 9A; 4 (1A) ���Universal Service Obligation” means the 5 [obligation to provide access to telegraph services] to people in the rural and remote areas at affordable and reasonable prices;] [ 7[(1AA)] “telegraph” means any appliance, instrument, material or apparatus used or capable of use for transmission or reception of signs, signals, writing, images and sounds or intelligence of any nature by wire, visual or other electro -magnetic emissions, Radio waves or Hertzian waves, galvanic, electric or magnetic means; 6 Explanation.—“Radio waves” or “Hertzian waves” means electro-magnetic waves of frequencies lower than 3,000 giga-cycles per second propagated in space without artificial guide:] (2) “telegraph officer” means any person employed either permanently or temporarily in connection with a telegraph established, maintained or worked by 8 [the Central Government] or by a person licensed under this Act; (3) “message” means any communication sent by telegraph, or given to a telegraph officer to be sent by telegraph or to be delivered; (4) “telegraph line” means a wire or wires used for the purpose of a telegraph, with any casing, coating, tube or pipe enclosing the same, and any appliances and apparatus connected therewith for the purpose of fixing or insulating the same; 1. The Act has been extended to the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu, vide Notification No. S.O. 2735 dated 1-9-1962, see Gazette of India, Extraordinary, Pt. II, sec. 3(ii), p. 1991-92 (w.e.f. 1-9-1962), extended to and brought into force in Dadra and Nagar Haveli by Reg. 6 of 1963, s. 2 and Sch. I (w.e.f. 1 -7-1965) and to the whole of the Union territory of Lakshadweep by Reg. 8 of 1965, s. 3 and Sch. (w.e.f. 1 -10-1967). 2. Subs. by Act 45 of 1948, s. 2, for sub -section (2). 3. The words “except the State of Hyderabad” rep. by Act 3 of 1951, s. 3 and the Schedule. Earlier these words were inserted by the A.O. 1950. 4. Ins. by Act 8 of 2004, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-4-2002). 5. Subs. by Act 57 of 2006, s. 2, for “obligation to provide access to basic telegraph services” (w.e.f. 30-10-2006). 6. Subs.by Act 15 of 1961, s. 2, for clause ( 1). 7. Clause (1) renumbered as clause (1AA) thereof by Act 8 of 2004, s. 2 (w.e.f. 1-4-2002). 8. Subs. by the A.O. 1937, for “the Govt.”. 3