A. Abetments.—Whoever abets an offence, punishable under section 39 or section 44 shall, notwithstanding anything contained in section 116 of the Indian Penal Code (Central Act XLV of 1860), be punished with punishment provided for the offence.".

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.".