Section 23: Intrusion into signal-room, trespass in telegraph office or obstruction

The Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 was repealed by the Telecommunications Act, 2023 (from 26 June 2024; Part III still applies to transmission lines under the Electricity Act, 2003). The text is kept here because the judgments below apply it.

If any person—

(a) without permission of competent authority, enters the signal-room of a telegraph office of the Government, or of a person licensed under this Act, or

(b) enters a fenced enclosure round such a telegraph office in contravention of any rule or notice not to do so, or

(c) refuses to quit such room or enclosure on being requested to do so by any officer or servant employed therein, or

(d) wilfully obstructs or impedes any such officer or servant in the performance of his duty,

he shall be punished with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees.

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

Supreme Court judgments citing the section 23

No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.