LG designates courts of Principal District & Sessions judges for trial of electricity-related offenses
Srinagar, Jan 28: The Government of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir has designated all the courts of Principal District and Sessions Judges for trial of offences under central electricity law which became applicable to the UT from October 31.
According to reports, the Lieutenant Governor G C Murmu in consultation with Jammu and Kashmir High Court has empowered courts of Principal District and Sessions judges for offences of electricity–rated offences like power theft, stealing of electricity cables and material, interference with meters or works of licenses, negligently damaging works etc.
“In exercise of powers of sub-section (1) (2) and (3) of Section 153 of Electricity Act, the Lieutenant Governor of Union Territory of Jammu and Kashmir in consultation with the common High Court of Jammu and Kashmir as special court for trial of offences under the aforesaid Act within their territorial jurisdiction,” reads notification issued by the government.
As per KNO, the notification shall be deemed to have come into effect from October 31, 2019. Before re-organisation of Jammu and Kashmir, the state government had empowered judicial magistrates for trial of electricity-related offences under J&K Electricity Act2010.
J&K Electricity Act was replaced by the Central Electricity Act-2003 after abolition of former by the Parliament on August 5 when it approved bifurcation of J&K into two UTs.
Under the central electricity law, a person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of a Special Court for trial of electricity offences unless he was, immediately before such appointment, an Additional District and Sessions Judge.
