Section 141 of the Electricity Act, 2003 penalizes extinguishing public lamps, imposing a fine of up to two thousand rupees on anyone who willfully or negligently extinguishes, throws down, or damages any public electric lamp or street lighting apparatus.
Willful or Negligent Damage to Public Lighting: Criminalizes the destruction, severing, or extinguishing of municipal street lamps, highway lights, and public safety illumination.
Protection of Public Safety & Traffic Security: Safeguards urban and rural thoroughfares from deliberate blackouts engineered to facilitate theft or crime.
Summary Magisterial Penalties: Authorizes Judicial Magistrates to impose summary fines and direct restitution of repair costs to the local municipal authority.
Key Landmark Precedents:
M.P. Electricity Board v. Shail Kumari (2002) 2 SCC 162: Supreme Court highlighted that public lighting infrastructure is essential for community safety and traffic protection.
State of W.B. v. Pradip Kumar Roy AIR 1969 SC 1201: Affirmed the statutory protection of municipal and highway electrical works.
Executive Engineer, Southern Electricity Supply v. Sri Seetaram Rice Mill (2012) 2 SCC 108: Affirmed the strict penal enforcement of public utility protections.
Courtroom Practice & Strategic Litigation Guidance:
Municipal authorities and power distribution companies should maintain photographic documentation of street-light vandalism and file formal complaints under Section 141 before the local Judicial Magistrate.
Legal Commentary & Landmark Judgments: Section 141
Section 141 of the Electricity Act, 2003 penalizes extinguishing public lamps, imposing a fine of up to two thousand rupees on anyone who willfully or negligently extinguishes, throws down, or damages any public electric lamp or street lighting apparatus.
Municipal authorities and power distribution companies should maintain photographic documentation of street-light vandalism and file formal complaints under Section 141 before the local Judicial Magistrate.