STATE OF BIHAR vs MANGAL SAO

The Supreme Court held that the use of a radio receiving set without a license constitutes an offense under Section 20 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885. The Court clarified that a radio receiving set falls within the definition of 'telegraph' as per Section 3(1) of the Act, and that using and keeping such a set amounts to 'maintaining' and 'working' a telegraph. The High Court's acquittal of the respondent under Section 20 was overturned, affirming the conviction and sentence imposed by the lower courts.