The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885

The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 is an Act of the Indian Parliament which governs the use of telegraph in India. The Act defines a telegraph as any appliance, instrument, or apparatus used for transmission or reception of signs, signals, messages, words, or other information through wire, radio waves, or any other electromagnetic medium. The Act empowers the government to take possession of telegraphs, regulate the use of telegraphs, and intercept messages in certain circumstances. It also provides for penalties for the unauthorized use of telegraphs, and contains provisions for the protection of privacy of telegraph messages. The Act has been amended several times to keep pace with the changing technology and requirements of the telegraph industry.