Amendment of section 44 of Central Act 9 of 1910.

(1) Section 44 of the principal Act shall be renumbered as sub-section (1) thereof and in sub-section (1) as so renumbered,- (i) after clause (a), the following clause shall be inserted, namely:- "[aa] unauthorized reconnects with any electric supply line or other works, being the property of the licensee, through which energy may be supplied, when the said electric supply line or other work has been out or disconnected; or"; (ii) for the words "shall be punishable with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees", the words "shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees or with both" shall be substituted; (iii) after the words "such connection as is referred to in clause (a)", the words "or such reconnection as is referred to in clause (aa)" shall be inserted; (iv) the words "and that the meter, indicator or apparatus, is under the custody or control of the consumer, whether it is his property or not" shall be omitted; (v) for the words "that such connection, communication, alteration, prevention or improper use" , the words "that such connection, reconnection, communication, alternation, prevention or improper use" shall be substituted. (2) After sub-section (1) as so renumber, the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely:- "(2) If any person, having been convicted of an offence punishable under sub-section (1), is again guilty of an offence punishable under that sub-section, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for the second or subsequent offence for a term which shall not be less than three months but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine".