SAJI GEEVARGHESE vs ACCOUNTS OFFICER .

The Supreme Court upheld the High Court's directive to refer the dispute regarding excess telephone billing to statutory arbitration under Section 7B of the Telegraph Act, 1885. The Court emphasized that the arbitration process must be followed to resolve disputes arising from billing discrepancies, and the telecom department's claims of no faults in the metering system were not sufficient to dismiss the appellant's concerns. The Court affirmed the importance of fair hearing and resolution through arbitration, thereby ensuring consumer rights are protected.