EXTRAORDINARY
PUBLISHED BY AUTHORITY
ISLAMABAD, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 4, 2016
PART I
Acts, Ordinances, President’s Orders and Regulations
NATIONAL ASSEMBLY SECRETARIAT
Islamabad, the 4th February, 2016
No. F. 22(1)/2014-Legis.—The following Act of Majlis-e-Shoora (Parliament) received the assent of the President on the I rj February, 2016 and is hereby published for general information:—
Ac r No. VI OF 2016
An Act further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 and the Code
of Criminal Procedure, 1898
WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (Act XLV of 1860) and the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 (Act V of 1898), for the purposes hereinafter appearing;
It is hereby enacted as follows:—
(59)
60 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 I PART I
1, Short title and commencement—This Act may be called the Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2016.
(2) It shall come into force at once.
- Addition of a new Chapter, Act XLV of 1860.—In the Pakistan Penal Code, 1860 (XLV of 1860), after Chapter XVII A, the following new chapter shall be inserted, namely:—
“CHAPTER XVII B
OF OFFENCES RELATING TO ELECTRICITY
462G. Definitions. –in this Chapter, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context,—
(a) “Court” means the court of sessions designated as Electricity
Utilities Court empowered to take cognizance of an offence under this Chapter;
(b) “consumer” means a person or his successor in interest who
purchases or receives electric power for consumption and not for delivery or resale to other, including a person who owns or occupies a premises where electric power is supplied:
(c) “distribution” means the ownership, operation, management
or control of distribution facilities for the movement or delivery or sale to consumers of electric power but shall not include the ownership, operation, management and control of distribution facilities located on private property and used solely to move or deliver electric power to the person owning, operating, managing and controlling those facilities or to tenants thereof;
(d) “distribution facilities” means electrical facilities operatinf. at
the distribution voltage and used for the movement or delivery of electric power;
(e) “electric meter” means an instrument which measures
electricity delivered to the consumer for consumpt on
including kilowatt meter, kilowatt hour meter; kiIoatt ampere hour meter, kilowatt ampere reactive hour meter, current transformers, potential transformers, maximum demand indicator or any other measuring apparatus;
PART II THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 61
(f) “electric supply-line” means a wire, conductor or other means
used for conveying, transmitting, or distributing energy together with any casing, coating, covering, tube, pipe or insulator, enclosing, surrounding or supporting the same or any part thereof, or any apparatus connected therewith for the purpose of so conveying, transmitting or distributing such energy;
(g) “electric power” means electrical energy or the capacity for
the production of electrical power;
(h) “electric power services” means the generation, transmission
or distribution of electric power and all other services incidental thereto;
(i) “energy” means electrical energy when generated,
transmitted, distributed, supplied or used for any purpose;
(j) “Government” means the Federal Government;
(k) “licence” means a licence issued for generation, transmission
or distribution under the Regulation of Generation, Transmission and Distribution of Electric Power Act, 1997 (XL of 1997);
(1) “licence” means a holder of a licence;
(m) “person” includes any individual or any company, firm or
cooperation whether incorporated or not, or public servant or an employee of any, company, licensee or electric power utility;
(n) “service tine” means any electric supply-line through which
energy is. or is intended to be, supplied by a licensee,—
(i) to a single consumer either from a distributing main or
immediately from the licensee’s premises; or
(ii) from a distributing main to a group of consumers on the
same premises of on adjoining premises supplied from
the same point of the distributing main;
62 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN. EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 [PAR– I
(o) ‘tampering” or “tamper” includes interfering or creating
hindrance in flow or metering of electric power by
unauthorized entry of access into metering system or transmission and distribution lines either by breaking the seals or damaging or destructing the same or in any manner interfering with the electric meter or transmission line or distribution line or interfering with its original condition;
(3) “tariff means the rates, charges terms and condition for
generation of electric power, transmission, inter-connection,
distribution services and sales of electric power to consumers by a licensee;
(q) “transmission” means the ownership, operation. management
or control of transmission facilities;
(r) “transmission facilities” means electrical transmission
facilities including electrical circuits, transformers and
sub-stations operating at or above the minimum transmission voltage; and
(s) “works” includes electric supply-lines and any buildings,
machinery or apparatus required to supply energy.
- Abstraction or tampering etc. with transmission.—(1) Ary person who,—
(a) dishonestly taps, makes or causes to be made any connection
with overhead, underground or under water lines or cables, or
services lines, electric supply-line or transmission facilities of a licensee for transmission of electric power services, or any other related system and equipment, as the case may be, so as to abstract, use or consume electricity without passing through the electric meter is said to cause abstraction; or
(b) willfully tampers or attempts to tamper with service
electric supply-line or transmission facilities for transmission of electric power, is said to cause tampering.
(2) Any person who causes or abets in causing abstraction or commits or abet in committing tampering with transmission of electr c power for the purpose of,—
PART
THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 63
(a) theft of electric power; or
(b) disrupting supply of electric power; or
(c) illegal transmission of electric power services,
shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which may extend to ten million rupees or with both.
- Abstraction or tampering etc., with distribution or auxiliary.—(1) Any person who,—
(a) dishonestly taps, makes or causes to be made any connection
with overhead, underground or under water lines or cables, or
service lines, electric supply-line or distribution facilities of a licensee for distribution of electric power services so as to abstract, use or consumer electricity without passing through the electric meter is said to cause abstraction; or
(b) willfully tampers or attempts to tamper with service line,
electric supply-line or distribution facilities for distribution of
electric power services, or any other related system and equipment, as the case may be, for distribution of electric power services is said to cause tampering with auxiliary or distribution of electric power.
(2) Any person who causes or abets in causing abstraction or commits or abets in committing tampering with distribution • of electric power for the purpose of,—
(a) theft of electric power; or
(b) disrupting supply of electric power; or
(c) illegal distribution of electric power services,
shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to three years or with fine which or may extend to three million rupees or with both.
64 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN. EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 [PART I
- Interference, improper use or tampering with electric meter by domestic consumer, etc.—Any person being the domestic consumer who,—
(a) unauthorizedly connects any electric meter with any electric
line through which electricity is supplied by a licensee or
disconnects the same from any such electric line without the consent of the licensee; or
(b) unauthorizedly reconnects any electric meter with any
electric line or other works being the property of a licensee when the said electric line or other works has or have been cut or disconnected without the consent of the licensee; or
(c) tampers with an electric meter, install or uses a tampered
electric meter, current reversing transformer, loop connection or any other device or method, contrivance or artificial means which interferes with accurate or proper registrar ion, calibration or metering of electric current or otherwise results in a manner whereby electricity is stolen or wasted; or
(d) uses the energy supplied by a licensee under one method of
tariff in a manner for which higher tariff is in force; or
(e) uses energy supplied by a licensee in a manner prejudicial to
the safety or efficient working of the electric supply-line or deals with it in a manner so as to interfere with effluent supply of energy to other consumers, or persons; or
(f) abets in the commission or any of the acts mentioned in
clauses (a) to (e),
in order to commit theft of electric power, or dishonestly abstract, consume or use electric power or unauthorized distribution or supply of electric power shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may be extend to two years or with fine which may extend to one million rupees or with both.
462K. Interference, improper use of tampering with electric meter by industrial or commercial, etc.—Any person being indus:rial or commercial who,—
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN. EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 65
(a) unauthori-zedly connects any electric meter with any electric
line through which electricity its supplied by a licensee or disconnects the same from any such electric line without the consent of the licensee; or
(b) unauthorizedly reconnects any electric meter with any
electric line or other works being the property of a licensee when the said .electric line or other works has or have been cut or disconnected without the consent of the licensee; or
(c) tampers with an electric meter, installs or uses a tampered
meter, current reversing transformer, loop connection or any other device or method, contrivance or artificial means which interferes with accurate or proper registration, calibration or metering of electric current or otherwise results in a manner whereby electricity is stolen or wasted; or
(d) uses the energy supplied by a licensee under one method of
tariff in a manner for which higher tariff is in force; or
(e) lays, or causes to be laid, or connects up any works for the
purpose of communicating with any other works belonging to
a licensee without consent; or
(f) uses energy supplied by a licensee in a manner prejudicial to
the safety or efficient working of the electric supply-line or deals with it in a manner so as to interfere with efficient supply of energy to other consumers, persons; or
(g) abets in the commission of any of the acts mentioned in
clauses (a) to (f),
in order to commit theft of electric power, or dishonestly abstract, consume or use electric power or unauthorized distribution or supply of electric power shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to. three years or with fine which may extend to six million rupees or with both.
462L. Interference, improper use or tempering with electric meter by agricultural consumer, ete.-7Any person being agricultural consumer who,—
66 THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 [PART I
(a) unauthorizedly connects any electric meter with any eloctric
line through which electricity is supplied by a license or disconnects the same from any such electric line without the consent of the licensee; or
(b) unauthorizedly reconnects any electric meter with any
electric line or other works being the property of a licensee when the said electric line or other works has or have been cut or disconnected without the consent of the licensee; or
(c) tampers with an electric meter, install or uses a tampered
meter, current reversing transformer, loop connection or any other device or method, contrivance or artificial means which interferes with accurate or proper registration, calibration or metering of electric current or otherwise results in a manner whereby electricity is stolen or wasted; or
(d) uses the energy supplied by a licensee under one method of
tariff in a manner for which higher tariff is in force; or
(e) lays, or causes to be laid, or connects up any works for the
purpose of communicating with any other works belonging to a licensee without consent; or
(f) uses energy supplied by a licensee in a manner prejudicial to
the safety or efficient working of the electric supply-line or deals with in a manner so as to interfere with efficient supply of energy to other consumers, persons; or
(g) abets in the commission of any of the act mentioned in
clauses (a) to (0,
in order to commit theft of electric power, or dishonestly abstract, consume or use electric power or unauthorized distribution or supply of electric power shall be punished with imprisonment which may extend to two years or with fine which may extend to two and half million rupees or with both.
462M. Damaging or destroying or destructing the transmission lines, distribution lines, electric meter etc.—Any person who damages. destroys or destruct any transmission lines, distribution lines, electric meter, apparatus, equipment, or wire or causes or allows any of them to
PART I] THE GAZETTE OF PAKISTAN, EXTRA., FEBRUARY 4, 2016 67
be so damaged, destroyed or destructed by an act of subversion by explosive material or in any other manner so as to disrupt the supply of electric power services or maliciously causes electric power services to be wasted or diverted or cuts off or injures or attempts to cut off or injure any transmission line or distribution line or a service line or electric supply line shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment which may extend to seven years and with fine which shall not be less than three million rupees.
362N. Recovery of outstanding amounts from persons involved in section 46211 to 462M offences.—Any person said to commit or to have committed the offence as mentioned in section 4621-1 to 462M shall also be liable to pay an amount equivalent to the financial loss caused to the Government or the distribution companies concerned. Any such outstanding amount of penalties or fines imposed under this Chapter shall be recoverable as arrears of land revenue.
- Cognizance.—(1) The Court shall try an offence punishable under this Chapter.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898 or any other law for the time being in force, the Court shall not take cognizance of an offence under this Chapter except on a complaint made, with reasons to be recorded in writing along with full particulars of the offence committed under this Chapter, by duly authorized officer (not below Grade 17) of the Government or the distribution company, as the case may be.