Offences by companies
Section 149 of the Electricity Act, 2003 deals with offences by companies. Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of having committed the offe The Act came into force on 10 Jun 2003.
(1) Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of having committed the offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly:
Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall render any such person liable to any punishment if he proves that the offence was committed without his knowledge or that he had exercised all due diligence to prevent the commission of such offence.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-section (1), where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company and it is proved that the offence has been committed with the consent or connivance of or is attributable to any neglect on the part of any director, manager, secretary or other officer of the company, such director, manager, secretary or other officer shall also be deemed to be guilty of having committed such offence and shall be liable to be proceeded against and punished accordingly.
Explanation.--For the purposes of this section,--
(a) "company" means a body corporate and includes a firm or other association of individuals; and
(b) "director", in relation to a firm, means a partner in the firm.
Section 149, The Electricity Act, 2003 (Act 36 of 2003).
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments name this provision in its title or its text without being made under it.
Questions about Section 149
What does Section 149 of the Electricity Act deal with?
Section 149 of the Electricity Act is headed "Offences by companies". Where an offence under this Act has been committed by a company, every person who at the time the offence was committed was in charge of and was responsible to the company for the conduct of the business of the company, as well as the company shall be deemed to be guilty of having committed the offe
How do I find court cases under Section 149 of the Electricity Act?
In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: Electricity Act 2003 149, section 149 Electricity Act 2003, section 149 of the Electricity Act. People searching for it also type 149 electricity act. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.
What should I read with Section 149 of the Electricity Act, and has it changed?
2 instruments name it without being made under it, most recently The Himachal Pradesh Electricity Regulatory Commission (Distribution Performance Standards) Regulations, 2010 (2010), then JERC Notification dated 31.07.2009 (2009).
When did Section 149 of the Electricity Act come into force?
Section 149 of the Electricity Act, cited as Electricity Act 2003 149, came into force on 10 Jun 2003, having been enacted on 26 May 2003. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.
Other sections of this Act
Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 18 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.