Punishment for committing mischief in respect of public property

Whoever, - (i) commits mischief by doing any act in respect of any public property whether movable or immovable or machinery and thereby causes loss or damage to the amount of one hundred rupees or upwards, or (ii) commits mischief by doing any act which causes or which he knows to be likely to cause a diminution of the supply of water to the public or to any person for any purpose or an inundation of, or obstruction to, any public drainage, or (iii) commits mischief by doing any act which renders any public road, bridge, navigable channel, natural or artificial impassable or less safe for travelling or conveying property, or (iv) commits mischief by fire or any explosive substance intending to cause or knowing it to be likely that he will thereby cause damage to any public property whether movable or immovable or machinery to the amount of one hundred rupees or upwards shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than six months but which may extend to five years and with fine: Provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than six months. Explanation.--For the purposes of this section.-- (i) "mischief" shall have the same meaning as in section 425 of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860) ; (ii) "public property whether movable or immovable or machinery" means any property or machinery owned or controlled by,- (a) the State Government ; or (b) any local authority ; or (c) the Tamil Nadu State Electricity Board ; or (d) any University in this State ; or (e) any co-operative society including a land development bank, registered or deemed to be registered under the Tamil Nadu Co-operative Societies Act, 1961 (Tamil Nadu Act 53 of 1961) ; or (f) any corporate body constituted under any Act passed by the Legislature of this State ; or (g) any other corporation owned or controlled by the State Government.