Last Updated on December 7, 2019 by Legalseva.net
Theft of electricity is very common in India. Power companies faces loss of 10 Billion $ in a year because Slum dwellers steal the electricity and refuses to pay bill. This is not story of one state or an area, it happens all over India.
Recently, In Chandigarh, District Session Judge Gagangeet Kaur imposed fine of Rs.10, 000 on Mr. Harreet Singh resident of sector -28 and also awarded 3yrs imprisonment for tampering with the electricity meter at his house.
Let’s see the facts of the case:
- First in June 2013 seals of the electricity meter were found tempered and meter was found working slowly than usual. It was the first offence.
- Then in April 2015 again meter’s seals found tempered & working slower than 66% and also an extra electronic circuit was found connected to the meter.
- Mr. Rakesh Mahajan, Sub Divisional officer of the Electricity Department files a Police complaint on 5 Jan, 2016 against the Harreet Singh Gill for theft of electricity under section 135 of the electricity Act, 2003.
- In Court, the accused denied all the allegations and pleaded himself innocent that when he made the complaint regarding burning of the cables from the electricity pole to the meter then seals of the meter were affixed by Junior Engineer of the Electricity Department.
After hearing of arguments of the both parties Court held that Mr. Harreet Singh Gill guilty& also said that “theft of electricity not only cause loss to the state exchequer but also puts pressure on honest customers”. Of these Economic Offences whole society is victim, so these offenders deserve no leniency.
Law Point: The Electricity Act 2003 is one of the landmarks Act of the Parliament. All the major issues like generation, distribution, transmission & trading in power & punishment to offender. As section 135 of the act provides punishment for theft of electricity.
So, one should think before doing such offences because, Court is very strict about these offenders, as these are not only against the state but also against the society.
Also Read- PUNJAB STATE ELECTRICITY REGULATORY COMMISSION
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