S.S. Sandhawalia, President—Whether the arbitration of disputes envisaged by Section 7-B of the Indian Telegraphs Act is a preliminary bar against seeking relief under the Consumer Protection Act, 1986 by a subscriber of the Telex Service - is the significant threshold question in this case.

2. The salient facts are not in serious dispute and may be recapitulated with relative brevity. M/s. Jagdamba Rice Mills, Taraori (hereinafter referred to as the 'Complainants') is a firm of considerable standing and repute, carrying on the business of a large scale exporter of rice at Taraori, which is a well-known centre therefor. The complainant-firm in order to avail of the fast communication by modern technology and to keep in touch with the foreign countries about the latest position of rates, demand, and dispatches of rice from time to time, got installed a Telex No. 241 in their premises at Taraori, after completing necessary formalities therefor, on the 31st October, 1985. At the very outset it may be mentioned at the main Telex Exchange is located at the District Headquarters at Karnal, and the aforesaid connection was provided as a long-distance one at Taraori, being at a distan