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Issues Involved:
1. Interpretation of the term "telegraph line" in Section 34(2)(b) of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910. 2. Jurisdiction of the Senior Electric Inspector to issue a notice under Section 34(2)(b) of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910. 3. Applicability of the maxim contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege in interpreting modern statutes. Issue-Wise Detailed Analysis: 1. Interpretation of the term "telegraph line" in Section 34(2)(b) of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910: The core issue in this case was the interpretation of the term "telegraph line" as used in Section 34(2)(b) of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910. The appellants contended that the definition of "telegraph line" in the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885, which is incorporated by reference in the Indian Electricity Act, is broad enough to include electric lines used for wireless telegraphy. The Court examined the definitions in both the Indian Electricity Act and the Indian Telegraph Act. According to Section 3(4) of the Indian Telegraph Act, "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. The Court concluded that the definition is comprehensive enough to include wires used for the purpose of receiving communications by means of electricity, thus encompassing the wires in the Post and Telegraph Wireless Station. 2. Jurisdiction of the Senior Electric Inspector to issue a notice under Section 34(2)(b) of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910: The first respondent challenged the jurisdiction of the Senior Electric Inspector, arguing that there was no "telegraph line" at the Post and Telegraph Wireless Station within the meaning of Section 34(2)(b) of the Indian Electricity Act. The Court noted that the Senior Electric Inspector had issued a notice to the first respondent to show cause why an order requiring the discontinuation of the operation of Universal Electric Motors should not be made. The interference with the reception of messages at the Telegraph Wireless Station was attributed to local induction from the first respondent's factory. The Court found that the interference injuriously affected the telegraph lines used for wireless telegraphic communications at the Wireless Receiving Centre, thereby justifying the jurisdiction of the Senior Electric Inspector under Section 34(2)(b) of the Act. 3. Applicability of the maxim contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege in interpreting modern statutes: The High Court had relied on the maxim contemporanea expositio est optima et fortissima in lege (contemporaneous exposition is the best and strongest in law) to construe the term "telegraph line" as it would have been understood in 1885, the year the Indian Telegraph Act was enacted. The Supreme Court rejected this reasoning, stating that the maxim is not applicable to modern statutes. The Court emphasized that legislative intent should be determined as of the time the legislation goes into effect, and that statutory provisions should be interpreted to include new facts and situations if the words are broad enough to encompass them. The Court cited several precedents to support this liberal approach to statutory interpretation, including cases where new technologies like telephones and radio broadcasting were held to fall within the scope of older legislative definitions. The Court concluded that the term "telegraph line" in the Indian Electricity Act is sufficiently broad to include the wires used in the Post and Telegraph Wireless Station. Conclusion: The Supreme Court set aside the order of the High Court and dismissed the petition filed by the first respondent. The appeal was allowed, and the Court held that the expression "telegraph line" is sufficiently comprehensive to include the wires used for the purpose of the apparatus of the Post and Telegraph Wireless Station. The Court emphasized that modern statutes should be interpreted in a manner that takes into account new developments and technologies, rejecting the application of the maxim contemporanea expositio to the interpretation of modern statutes.
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