Power to make rules for the conduct of telegraphs
Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 deals with power to make rules for the conduct of telegraphs. The Central Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules1 consistent with this Act for for the conduct of all or any telegraphs established, maintained or worked by the Government or by persons licensed under this Act. The Act came into force on 01 Oct 1885.
(1) The Central Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules1 consistent with this Act for for the conduct of all or any telegraphs established, maintained or worked by the Government or by persons licensed under this Act.
(2) Rules under this section may provide for all or any of the following, among other matters, that is to say:--
(a) the rates at which, and the other conditions and restrictions subject to which, messages shall be transmitted 2[within India;]
(b) the precautions to be taken for preventing the improper interception or disclosure of messages;
(c) the period for which, and the conditions subject to which, telegrams and other documents belonging to, or being in the custody of, telegraph offices shall be preserved; and
(d) the fees to be charged for searching for telegrams or other documents in the custody of any telegraph officer;
3[(e) the conditions and restrictions subject to which any telegraph line, appliance or apparatus for telegraphic communication shall be established, maintained, worked, repaired, transferred, shifted, withdrawn or disconnected;
4[(ee) the charges in respect of any application for providing any telegraph line, appliance or apparatus;]
5[(eea) the manner in which the fund may be administered;
(eeb) the criteria based on which sums may be released;]
(f) the charges in respect of--
(i) the establishment, maintenance, working, repair, transfer or shifting of any telegraph line, appliance or apparatus;
(ii) the services of operators operating such line, appliance or apparatus;
(g) the matters in connection with the transition from a system where under rights and obligations relating to the establishment, maintenance, working, repair, transfer or shifting of any telegraph line, appliance or apparatus for telegraphic communication attach by virtue of any agreement to a system whereunder such rights and obligations attach by virtue of rules made under this section;
(h) the time at which, the manner in which, the conditions under which and the persons by whom the rates, charges and fees mentioned in this sub-section shall be paid and the furnishing of security for the payment of such rates, charges and fees;
(i) the payment of compensation to the Central Government for any loss incurred in connection with the provision of any telegraph line, appliance or apparatus for the benefit of any person--
(a) where the line, appliance or apparatus is, after it has been connected for use, given up by that person before the expiration of the period fixed by these rules, or
(b) where the work done for the purpose of providing the line, appliance or apparatus is, before it is connected for use, rendered abortive by some act or omission on the part of that person;
(j) the principles according to which and the authority by whom the compensation referred to in clause (i) shall be assessed;
6[(jj) the qualifications to be possessed and the examinations, if any, to be passed by the persons employed for the establishment, maintenance or working of any telegraph and the fees to be charged for admission to such examinations;]
(k) any other matter for which provision is necessary for the proper and efficient conduct of all or any telegraphs under this Act.]
(3) When making rules for the conduct of any telegraph established, maintained or worked by any person licensed under this Act, the Central Government may by the rules prescribe fines for any breach of the same:
Provided that the fines so prescribed shall not exceed the following limits, namely:--
(i) when the person licensed under this Act is punishable for the breach, one thousand rupees, and in the case of a continuing breach a further fine of two hundred rupees for every clay after the first during the whole or any part of which the breach continues;
(ii) when a servant of the person so licensed, or any other person, is punishable for the breach, one-fourth of the amounts specified in clause (i).
7[(4) Nothing in this section or in any rules made hereunder shall be construed as--
(a) precluding the Central Government from entering into an agreement with a person for the establishment, maintenance and working by that Government on terms and conditions specified in the agreement, of any telegraph line, appliance or apparatus for the purpose of affording means of telegraphic communication, where having regard to the number of the lines, appliance or apparatus required by that person for telegraphic communication, it is necessary or expedient to enter into such agreement with him, or
(b) subjecting the Central Government to any obligation to provide any telegraph line, appliance or apparatus for the purpose of affording means of telegraphic communication.
8[(5) Every rule made under this section shall be laid as soon as may be after it is made before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days 9 [which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid,] both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or both Houses agree that the rule should not be made, the rule shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule.]]
Section 7, The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (Act 13 of 1885).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
Referred to by 1
Made under this section, and citing it
25 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
- Tthe Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022Rule 2023
- Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018Rule 2018
- The Use of Very Low Power Radio Frequency Devices or Equipments for Inductive Applications (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Amendment Rules, 2018.Rule 2018
- The Use of Wireless Access System including Radio Local Area Network in 5 GHz Band (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018Rule 2018
- The use of low power and very low power Short Range Radio Frequency Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018Rule 2018
- The use of very low power Ultra-wideband devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2018Rule 2018
- The prevention of tampering of the Mobile Device Equipment Identification Number, Rules, 2017Rule 2017
- Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016Rule 2016
- The Indian Telegraph Right of Way Rules, 2016Rule 2016
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Commercial Radio Operator's Certificate of Proficiency and License to operate Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) Amendment Rules, 2016Rule 2016
- The use of very low power Radio Frequency devices or equipments including the Radio Frequency Identification Devices, (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2014Rule 2014
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Commercial Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency and License to operate Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) Amendment Rules, 2013Rule 2013
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Demonstration License) (Amendment) Rules, 2009Rule 2009
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Experimental Service) Amendment Rules, 2009Rule 2009
- The use of low power equipment in the frequency band 865-867 MHz for (RFID) Radio Frequency Identification Devices (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Amendment Rules, 2006Rule 2007
- The use of very low power equipment in the Citizen Band 26.957- 27.283 MHz ( Exemption from Licensing Requirements) Amendment Rules, 2006Rule 2007
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Amendment Rules, 2005Rule 2005
- The Use of low power equipment in the Citizen band 26.957 - 27.283 MHz (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2005Rule 2005
- The use of low power Equipment in the frequency band 2.4 GHz to 2.4835 GHz (Exemption from Licensing Requirement) Rules, 2005Rule 2005
- The Radio, Television and Video Cassette Recorder Sets (Exemption from Licensing Requirements), Amendment Rules, 2001Rule 2001
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Commercial Radio Operators Certificate of Proficiency and license to operate Global Maritime Distress and Safety System) Rules, 1997Rule 1998
- The Radio, Television and Video Cassette Recorder Sets (Exemption from Licensing Requirement), Rules, 1997Rule 1997
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Experimental Service) Amendment Rules, 1988Rule 1988
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphs (Amateur Service) Amendment Rules, 1984Rule 1984
- The Indian Wireless Telegraphy (Experimental Service) Rules, 1962Rule 1962
Another 1 instrument names this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 7
What does Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act deal with?
Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act is headed "Power to make rules for the conduct of telegraphs". The Central Government may, from time to time, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules1 consistent with this Act for for the conduct of all or any telegraphs established, maintained or worked by the Government or by persons licensed under this Act.
How do I find court cases under Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Indian Telegraph Act 1885 7, section 7 Indian Telegraph Act 1885, section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act. People searching for it also type section 7b of indian telegraph act and section 7 of indian telegraph act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, and has it changed?
1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 25: most recently Tthe Indian Telegraph (Infrastructure Safety) Rules, 2022 (2023), then Flight and Maritime Connectivity Rules, 2018 (2018), and 23 more.
When did Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act come into force?
Section 7 of the Indian Telegraph Act, cited as Indian Telegraph Act 1885 7, came into force on 01 Oct 1885, having been enacted on 22 Jul 1885. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
- 4. Exclusive privilege in respect of telegraphs, and power to grant licenses597 words
- 16. Exercise of powers conferred by section 10, and disputes as to compensation, in case of property other than that of a local authority325 words
- 19A. Person exercising legal right likely to damage telegraph or interfere with telegraphic communication to give notice325 words
- 3. Definitions316 words
- 5. Power for Government to take possession of licensed telegraphs and to order interception of messages296 words
- 17. Removal or alteration of telegraph line or post on property other than that of a local authority255 words
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 24 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.