ORDER

1. Leave granted.

2. We have heard learned counsel for the parties. The High Court in the impugned order has taken the view in the revision filed by the respondent-Electricity Board that the trial court had no jurisdiction to entertain the claim petition under Section 16 of the Indian Telegraph Act, 1885 (for short "the Act") beyond a period of three years. The award of the authority was dated 9-8-1983 while the application was filed in 1993 before the District Court under Section 16(3) of the Act. The High Court rightly held that the said application was beyond time of three years permissible under law as held by this Court in the case of Kerala SEB v. T. P. Kunhaliumma ((1976) 4 SCC 634). However, learned counsel for the appellant vehemently contended that even when such an objection was raised in the grounds of objection before the trial court by the respondent, no such objection appeared to have been canvassed ultimately nor even such an issue was struck by the trial court. Be that as it may, the question of limitation in the facts of this case being a pure question of law would assume the character of an issue of jurisdiction. However, learned counsel for the appellant w