A switching apparatus for closing an electric circuit of medium or high voltage level, the apparatus including a movable contact arranged linearly movable between a first and a second position, wherein the apparatus comprises a device for indicating the state of the switching apparatus, characterised in that the device comprises: - a first and second protruding contact elements (4A,4B) arranged at a distance from each other on the movable contact, - a first and a second contact pin (2A,2B) arranged at a distance from the movable contacts, such that the first contact element abuts the first contact pin and the first contact pin is in electrical contact with the first contact element when the movable contact is in the first position, and the first contact element is at a distance from the first contact pin when the movable contact is in the second position, whereby the first contact element and the first contact pin form a first electrical switch, and the second contact element abuts the second contact pin and the second contact pin is in electrical contact with the second contact element when the movable contact is in the second position, and the second contact element is at a distance from the second contact pin when the movable contact is in the first position, whereby the second contact element and the second contact pin form a second electrical switch, - a detector arrangement configured to detect when said first electrical switch is closed and by that detect when the movable contact is in the first position, and to detect when the second switch is closed and by that detect when the movable contact is in the second position, and the detector arrangement comprises a power supply arranged to form a second electric circuit together with said first and second electrical switches, and - a measuring unit arranged to measure the voltage or current in the second electric circuit, and the detector arrangement is configured to detect whether the movable contact is in the first position or the second position based on the level of the measured voltage or current. - a first and second protruding contact elements (4A,4B) arranged at a distance from each other on the movable contact, - a first and a second contact pin (2A,2B) arranged at a distance from the movable contacts, such that the first contact element abuts the first contact pin and the first contact pin is in electrical contact with the first contact element when the movable contact is in the first position, and the first contact element is at a distance from the first contact pin when the movable contact is in the second position, whereby the first contact element and the first contact pin form a first electrical switch, and the second contact element abuts the second contact pin and the second contact pin is in electrical contact with the second contact element when the movable contact is in the second position, and the second contact element is at a distance from the second contact pin when the movable contact is in the first position, whereby the second contact element and the second contact pin form a second electrical switch, - a detector arrangement configured to detect when said first electrical switch is closed and by that detect when the movable contact is in the first position, and to detect when the second switch is closed and by that detect when the movable contact is in the second position, and the detector arrangement comprises a power supply arranged to form a second electric circuit together with said first and second electrical switches, and - a measuring unit arranged to measure the voltage or current in the second electric circuit, and the detector arrangement is configured to detect whether the movable contact is in the first position or the second position based on the level of the measured voltage or current.