The Electricity Act of 2003

The Electricity Act of 2003 (Federal), as amended in 2007 – Indian federal law which codifies electricity theft as a separate offence.  Sections 135 through 139 illustrate the various electricity theft offenses and Sections 153 to 157 deal with the establishment, by state governments, of "Special Courts" for the administration of prosecutions for these specific offenses.  This Act enables officers of the utility company to search for illegal connections, gather evidence and seize instruments and devices used for the illegal connections, so long as it is done in compliance with protections under the criminal code, and prepare a complaint to be given to a magistrate for prosecution.  It also makes theft of electricity a cognizable offense punishable by up to three years in prison, which enables the police to make an arrest without a warrant.

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