The Indian Electricity (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 1980

1. (1) This Act may be called the Indian Electricity (Tamil Nadu Amendment) Act, 1980.
2. (2) It extends to the whole of the State of Tamil Nadu.
3. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the State Government may, by notification, appoint.

In section 20 of the Indian Electricity Act, 1910 (Central Act IX of 1910) (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in sub-section (2),—

1. (i) in the opening paragraph, for the words "and after giving not less than twenty-four hours notice in writing to the occupier", the words "at any reasonable time between sun rise and sun set, and on informing the occupier of his intention" shall be substituted;
2. (ii) after clause (b), the following proviso shall be inserted, namely :— " Provided that sufficient notice shall in every case be given to enable the inmates of any apartment appropriated to females to withdraw to some part of the premises where their privacy may be preserved."

In section 24 of the principal Act, after sub-section (1), the following sub-section shall be inserted, namely :-

"(1-A) Where an officer not lower in rank than a Divisional Engineer of the Tamil Nadu Electricity Board, on a personal inspection, is satisfied that any electric supply line or other works which has been cut or disconnected under sub-section

1. (1) by the licensee has been reconnected unauthorisedly by any consumer, then, without prejudice to any other penalty that may be imposed under section 44 or under any other provisions of this Act, such officer may, for reasons to be recorded in writing, order that energy shall not be supplied to such consumer for a period not exceeding one year as may be specified in such order : Provided that no such order shall be made unless the consumer has been given an opportunity of making his representations.".

For section 39 of the principal Act, the following sections shall be substituted, namely :—

"39. Theft of energy.—(1) Whoever dishonestly abstracts, consumes or uses any energy shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or with fine which shall not be less than five hundred rupees but which may extend to five thousand rupees, or with both ; and if it is proved that any artificial means or means not authorised by the licensee exist for the abstraction, consumption or use of the energy by the consumer, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that such abstraction, consumption or use of energy has been dishonestly caused by such consumer.

1. (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 six months but which may extend to five years and shall also be liable to fine.

5. Amendment of section 44, Central Act IX of 1910 In section 44 of the principal Act,—

1. (1) the said section shall be renumbered as sub-section
2. (1) of that section and in sub-section
3. (1) as so renumbered,—
   • (i) after clause (a), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :— "(aa) unauthorisedly 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 works has been cut or disconnected under sub-section
4. (1) of section 24; 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, alterations, prevention or improper use", the words "that such connection, reconnection, communication, alteration, prevention or improper use" shall be substituted;
5. (2) after sub-section
6. (1) as so renumbered, 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.". 6. Amendment of section 47, Central Act IX of 1910 In section 47 of the principal Act, for the words and figures "sections 39 to 46", the words, figures and letter "section 39, section 39-A or sections 40 to 46" shall be substituted. 7. Amendment of section 48, Central Act IX of 1910 In section 48 of the principal Act, for the words and figures "sections 39 to 47", the words, figures and letter "section 39, section 39-A or sections 40 to 47" shall be substituted. 8. Amendment of section 49, Central Act IX of 1910 In section 49 of the principal Act, for the words and figures "sections 39, 44, 45 and 46", the words, figures and letter "sections 39, 39-A, 44, 45 and 46" shall be substituted. 9. Insertion of new section After section 50 of the principal Act, the following section shall be inserted, namely :— "50-A. Certain offences under the Act to be cognizable.—Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (Central Act 2 of 1974) any offence under section 39, section 39-A or section 44 of this Act shall be deemed to be a cognizable offence within the meaning of that Code.".