LAW OF TELEGRAPHS
15 Sombula 1317
ARTICLE 1: The telegraph offices shall observe the provisions of these regulations is
receiving and communicating telegrams.
ARTICLE 2: Telegrams shall be communicated at their prescribed times. No persons is
authorized to demand the immediate transmission of any message.
NOTE: The Ministry of Posts shall decide on working hours for
telegraph offices.
ARTICLE 3: Telegrams shall be transmitted in accordance with their special forms
Special receipts shall be issued to the sender for each types of telegram.
ARTICLE 4: Personal telegrams whose contents are contrary to religious affairs and
national interests or those which are considered injurious to the national
security or against the laws of the security shall not be transmitted.
ARTICLE 5: Following is a list of the various types of telegrams.
a)
(b)
The original source:
(1)
Government telegrams: telegrams sent by various government
departments and by foreign diplomatic missions.
(2)
Service telegrams pertaining to the telegraph departments.
(3)
Personal telegrams.
The contents:
(1)
Telegrams in plain language.
(2)
Telegrams in numerical XXXX and in codes.
(3)
Mixed telegrams in plain language together with XXXX and
codes.
ARTICLE 6: Government telegrams shall be transmitted prior to all other telegrams.
Service telegrams shall be transmitted prior to personal telegrams.
DEFINITION OF THE VARIOUS TYPES OF TELEGRAMS
Plain Telegrams
ARTICLE 7: Plain telegrams are those XXXX words and sentences to one or any of the
authorized languages. These telegrams shall contain plain intelligible
message and each word or sentence shall be used in its conventional
meaning. Such messages can be a mixture of words and numbers that have
no cryptic meaning. Such telegrams can contain trade mark expressions,
XXXX abbreviations, or other current abbreviations.
NOTE: The minimum charge for a plain telegrams is on the basis of 10
words even when the message contains less than 10 words.
Code Telegrams
ARTICLE 8: Code telegrams are those containing words in code. Code words are he
following:
a) Artificial expressions.
b) XXXX expressions that are used to XXXX a meaning other than what
they denote in the plain language in which they are used.
c) A mixture of artificial and XXXX expressions defined above. Code
and artificial expressions shall not be longer than words.
NOTE: Letters in a code message can be in any combination desired by the
sender but they must not contain the letter “a”. Charges on code
telegrams shall be in accordance with international tariffs and
agreements based on a rate of 10 percent at the country of XXXX.
ARTICLE 9: Any telegram containing at least one code word – even when all the rest of
the message is in plain language – shall be classed as code telegram (CDE
telegram). Thus all the rest of the words in such a message shall be
counted on the basis of five XXXX to a word – such five letters to the
message shall constitute are word; any letter is excess of the last five shall
constitute one word.
ARTICLE 10: Any telegram containing at least one code letter and the rest numbers or
groups of numbers shall be considered as a code message for charging
purposes provided that the numbers and the group of numbers do not
XXXX one-half of the words used in the address and the signature.
NOTE: Code telegrams shall contain the expression “CDE”. This
expression shall be transmitted to the destination without any
charge. The minimum charge for a code telegram shall be based on
10 words even when the message continue less than 10 words.
Cipher Telegrams
ARTICLE 11: Cipher telegrams are the following:
a) These composed of Arabic XXXX, i.e., Arabic XXXX arranged to
XXXX and converting XXXX meanings.
b) Those composed of letters, names, and phrase – except the letter
“XXXX” with an accent – which do not convey any XXXX in plain
language or in XXXX.
ARTICLE 12: Letters and numbers shall not be combined to make one group having a
cryptic meaning.
The minimum charge for a cipher telegrams is on the basis of 10 words
even when the message does not contain 10 words. Cipher telegrams can
only based for government XXXX.
Mixed Telegrams
ARTICLE 13: Mixed telegram are those in which plain and cryptic words are used one
after another. If the cryptic words are considered codes, code rates shall be
charged for them; otherwise the cryptic words shall be charged on the
basis of cipher and plain words on the basis of plain words.
ARTICLE 14: The sender of a code or a mixed telegrams shall upon the request of the
telegraph department provide the telegraph office XXXX with XXXX key
to the code used in the message.
ARTICLE 15: A telegraphic message shall be writing in intelligible writing. Any changes
on the XXXX, additions, or deletions shall be certified by the sender or his
representatives.
ARTICLE 16: Each telegrams must contain the following information:
a) Service Code
b) Address
c) Text of Message
d) Signature
ARTICLE 17: The address shall contain all the information required for the delivery of a
message. It shall at least have two words with the name of the recipient
XXXX last.
ARTICLE 18: The sender is responsible for completing the address of the recipient. The
sender can use a short telegraphic address for the recipient rather than his
full name and address. However the proper consent of the telegraph
department should be obtained for such usage. Agreement for telegraphic
addresses can be reached with the telegraph department for a period of one
year against the payment prescribed by the special tariff for this purpose.
ARTICLE 19: Telegrams containing only an address with no text shall not be accepted
inter transmission by the telegraph offices.
ARTICLE 20: In writing the particulars of the destination office, publications and lists
issued by the international telegraph office shall be considered
authoritative.
ARTICLE 21: All words and letters used by the sender is a message shall be counted in
charging for the telegram. Dashes separating letters or groups of letters,
XXXX dashes, and all other signs and punctuations shall neither be
counted nor transmitted in a message. In case the sender should request
the XXXX of these signs, each punctuations shall be counted as one word.
NOTE: Indications of the type of telegram, name of the office of issue,
number of message, date of transmission, XXXX of transmissions,
services codes, XXXX codes, and all other words, letters, and
numbers that are used for transmission purposes shall not be
counted in charging for a message. However, if the sender should
use any or all of these expressions in his text, they shall then be
XXXX and charged to him.
ARTICLE 22: In telegrams written in plain language, each word can have a maximum of
is letters to it. Any letters in excess of 15 in a word – even if it is one letter
in excess – shall be counted with the next word.
ARTICLE 23: In code telegrams each five letters constitute one word. In cipher
telegrams each five numbers or letters or groups of XXXX or letters shall
constitute one word. Any letter, number, group of letters, or group of
members in excess of five in one word shall constitute a new word for the
purpose of charging for the message.
ARTICLE 24: A combined family name, XXXX forms of the names of places, XXXX,
XXXX, boats, aviation codes, and other combined and contracted
expressions that have been authorized for use can be put in a telegraphic
message. In the address the name of the destination telegraph office and
all other details that have been placed for that purpose of the official list
shall be counted as one word.
ARTICLE 25: The signature on a telegram, even in the case of cryptic (cipher), mixed, or
code messages can have as much as 15 letters for one word. Any letters is
access of the 15 letters shall be counted as constituting a new word.
ARTICLE 26: Charges for internal telegrams shall be collected in cash at the time of the
delivery of the message in accordance with the specific telegraphic tariff.
ARTICLE 27: Special telegrams have two categories.
a) Urgent telegrams: these are sent at the earliest possible time before
personal priority messages.
b) Priority telegrams.
The sender of a telegram can have his message given priority when he has
put the necessary terms of “urgent,” “D,” or “priority” on his message and
when he has paid the double charge of an ordinary message for his special
message. The charges on a priority code (CDE) telegram are also double
the charges on an ordinary code (CDE) message.
Prepaid Telegraphic Replies
ARTICLE 28: The sender of any type of telegrams, except a press telegram, can pay the
charges for the reply to his message in advance. For this purpose the
address of the telegram should be proceeded with one of the following
expresses one: “XXXX,” payment made for an urgent reply, “RPD,” pay
must made for a priority reply: “RP,” payment made for an XXXX reply:
“XXXX,” payment made for a lettergram reply. When payment is made
for more than 10 words to the reply, the number of words authorized to in
the prepayment arrangement should be put in the message together with
the letter “W.” for example, “XXXX” would denote that payment has
been made for an urgent reply containing 12 words.
ARTICLE 29: The office of the XXXX, upon receiving a message with indication of the
prepaid arrangement for a reply, shall forward the message to the recipient
together with a special telegram form upon which the number of words
allowed for the reply is printed. The recipient can use this form within
three months of the receipt to send any message at any post office within
the country up to the amount that has been allowed on the form.
NOTE: Should the charges on prepaid telegram exceed the amount
prepaid, the person who dispatches the reply has to pay the
differences in cash at the time of delivering it to the telegraph
offices concerned. Should charges on the prepaid message be less
then the amount.
prepaid, the difference shall be XXXX to the XXXX who
originally paid for the message provided that such person supplies
to the telegraph office for each refund within six months of
receiving the reply message.
Confirmation Telegrams
ARTICLE 30: The sender of a telegram can request for the XXXX of his message
through all the channels to its destination for the purpose of XXXX. To do
this he shall put the XXXX code “TC” on his message.
ARTICLE 31: The charges for a confirmation telegram shall be one and one-half of the
charges on an ordinary similar telegram even when the message is urgent
or priority. The charges on a CDE confirmation telegram shall be equal to
one and one-half times the charges of the XXXX telegram XXXX nonconfirmed.
ARTICLE 32: Government telegrams and service telegrams shall be confirmed officially
and without any charge.
Telegrams with Receipts
ARTICLE 33: The sender of a telegram can request that the date and time of the delivery
of his message be sent to him by telegram or by post. If he wants the
information by telegram, the services code PCP shall be put on his
message and he would be charged for an ordinary XXXX rate telegram. If
he should want the information by post the service code PCP shall be put
on his message and the information shall be mailed to him. In this case, he
shall be charged XXXX.
NOTE: The office of the destination shall immediately after the delivery of
the message transmit or mail the receipt to the telegraph or postal office of
XXXX and the office of origin shall convey the information to the original
sender.
Telegraphs with Identical Texts Sent to Different Address
ARTICLE 34: Telegrams with identical texts shall be accepted for different addresses
falling within the jurisdiction of the same telegraph office. The service
code TM or the term “several addresses” should be put on the message.
The name of the office of destination shall be put only once at the end of
all the addresses.
ARTICLE 35: A telegram with several addresses shall be considered as one telegrams
and all the addresses shall be XXXX to XXXX the XXXX of words for
charging purpose. However, the Afghani shall be charged for each copy
that has to be made of the office of destination for delivery.
Press Telegrams
ARTICLE 36: Press telegrams are those written is plain language and are addressed to
the offices of newspapers, periodicals, and information organizations and
are for the purpose of publication. Such telegrams are charged at one-half
the price of ordinary telegrams.
In XXXX telegrams the service code “PRESSE” shall be placed. In
addition such telegrams can have the service codes “URGENT,” “TM,”
and “PRIORITY.”
NOTE: The XXXX charge for a press telegram to 20 words. XXXX
telegrams that do not conform to the above requirements XXXX be
charged at the full rate.
Aviation Telegrams
ARTICLE 37: Aviation telegrams are XXXX sent by a recognized aviation service or by
a filter to his airline office concerning aviation information. Flash
telegrams shall be XXXX free of charge.
NOTE: Aviation telegrams must hear the service code OBS.
Lettergrams
ARTICLE 38: Lettergrams are those sent in plain language which are transmitted after all
other types of telegrams have been transmitted. The charges on such
telegrams shall be one-third of the charges on ordinary telegrams.
ARTICLE 39: Lettergrams XXXX be sent as urgent or priority. Lettergrams shall have
the service code LT. The minimum charges for lettergrams shall be
XXXX words.
Decorative Telegrams
ARTICLE 40: The sender of a telegraphic message can request that his message be
delivered to the recipient on a decorated form by writing the service code
LX on his telegram. One Afghani shall be charged in addition to the
normal charges for sending decorative telegrams.
ARTICLE 41: Government telegrams should beer the seal of the sender of the message.
This is to insure that there is no doubt XXXX the origin of the message.
NOTE: Government telegrams should have the service code ETAT.
ARTICLE 42: The sender of a telegram, by entering the service code XXXX, can say
that, if the recipient is not at the given address, the massage he sent to an
alternative address of the recipient. In such cases, the alternative address
should be provided with the original message.
ARTICLE 43: The charges for sending the message to a XXXX address shall be
collected from the recipient. In case the recipient refuses to pay the
additional charges, the message shall be delivered to him and the office of
destination shall inform the office of origin to collect the additional
charges from the sender.
ARTICLE 44: If the service code for re-xcuting a message is not put on the telegram and
the recipient has changed his address without requesting the telegraph
officer to retain his telegrams for personal collection, provided that his
new address is known to the office of destination, his telegram shall be
sent to XXXX by mail.
NOTE: When such telegrams are sent by post, the recipient shall be
charged for the postage at the time of delivery. When a person is changing
his address, he can ask his telegraph office to forward his messages to him
by telegram or by post, in which case telegraphic or postal charges shall be
collected from him as the case may be at the time of delivery of any
message.
ARTICLE 46: Provided hat there is sufficient time, the sender of a telegram or his legal
representative one stop his message from XXXX from the office of
XXXX or one delay it an-route before delivery to the recipient. He should
present his receipt for the telegram at the time of making the request.
If the sender XXXX his message before it has been transmitted from the
office of origin, he will be charged one Afghani as service charge and the
balance of his payments shall be refunded to him. If the message has
XXXX through, he shall not receive any refund and by sending a new
message, he can stop the delivery of the previous one.
ARTICLE 47: The request for delay and the confirmation shall be charged in accordance
with the type of telegram each for this purpose. If he should XXXX for the
delay by telegram and the confirmation by post, it shall be charged for the
delay message according to the telegraphic XXXX and for the
confirmation according to the rate of a XXXX letters. The office that stops
the telegrams shall inform the office of origin and the letter shall inform
the sender by mail.
ARTICLE 48: After XXXX of the XXXX of XXXX, the telegrams shall be sealed and
distributed. XXXX shall be in order of receipt.
NOTE: Ordinary message shall be delivered within 42 hours, priority
message within 12 hours, and urgent message within XXXX hours.
ARTICLE 49: Telegrams shall be delivered under the following arrangements.
a) If the sender has marked a telegrams with the service code MP for
delivering XXXX to the recipient, the message shall be delivered to
the address XXXX.
b) Official telegrams shall be delivered to the head of the department
concerned or, in the absence of any specific written instruction from
the XXXX of the department, to the director of the branch working
under XXXX and being concerned with the message.
c) Telegrams for XXXX XXXX in XXXX shall be delivered to the
owners or XXXX of the XXXX or to their legal representatives.
d) Other telegrams, when the recipient is absent and has not given written
instruction XXXX a representative to receive his message, shall be
handed to an adult member of his family or to his servants.
ARTICLE 49: Should the delivery of a telegram not be possible under any circumstances,
the messenger shall place a notice at the door of the recipient and the letter
has to apply to the telegraph office to take delivery of his message.
ARTICLE 50: Undelivered telegrams shall be XXXX at the office of destination for
XXXX days: but the XXXX of destination of XXXX XXXX the office of
origin immediately by telegram. If the office of origin to XXXX to
remove the XXXX for XXXX to delivery, it shall inform the sender. The
sender can correct the address of the telegram by telegram or by XXXX.
ARTICLE 51: The sender of a telegram can apply for the refund of the following
charges:
a) Charges on a XXXX that has not been delivered due to the fault of the
telegraph office.
b) Charges XXXX
c) Charges XXXX a telegram in plain language XXXX has become
unintelligible owing to the fault of the telegraph office in transmitting.
d) Charges on the portion of a plain language telegrams that has become
unintelligible or charges on a confirmation on a code or cipher
telegram that to proven to have been different from the original XXXX
by the sender.
e) Charges paid for a reply on a telegram that had not been used or had
not been accepted by the recipient, provided that the reply form is
presented to the telegraph office before the expiration of the three
months allowed for this purpose.
ARTICLE 52: Charges collected on an original message or a reply for a prepaid reply
message shall be refunded under the following conditions.
a) When the answer to a telegram is not received due to closing down or
XXXX other cause resting with the telegraph office.
b) When the original telegram is not receive d at the office of destination
due to closing down or some other cause XXXX with the telegraph
office lettergrams do not fall under this provision.
c) When extra charges have been collected by XXXX.
NOTE: Any request for refunds should be made within six months of the
delivery of the telegram XXXX and in the case of XXXX of
Article 51 within three months of the receipt of the telegraphic
form. Application must be made to the office of origin and must
accompany the following documents.
a) If a telegram is delayed or not delivered, a written certificate to
that effect from the office of destination or the recipient.
b) If the message had been delivered to the recipient.
ARTICLE 53: Telegrams transmitted to foreign countries shall be subject to the provision
of the international telegraphic agreement and the regulations attached to
that agreement.
ARTICLE 54: The Government of Afghanistan does not accept any responsibility for
telegraphic XXXX.
ARTICLE 55: The Ministry of Post, Telegraph, and Telephone shall be responsible and
in charge of the execution of XXXX regulations.
AMENDMENT: No
1
2
3
4
Types of Telegram
plain
priority
codes
air (XXXX)
Charge per Word
40 pals
30 pals
24 pals
20 pals
Remarks
Handwritten telegraphic charges shall be collected in accordance with the
above table. 23 Sombuls 1321