Constitution of Special Courts
Section 153 of the Electricity Act, 2003 deals with constitution of Special Courts. The State Government may, for the purposes of providing speedy trial of offences referred to in [sections 135 to 140 and section 150], by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute as many Special Courts as may be necessary for such area or areas, as may be specified in the notification. The Act came into force on 10 Jun 2003.
(1) The State Government may, for the purposes of providing speedy trial of offences referred to in 1[sections 135 to 140 and section 150], by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute as many Special Courts as may be necessary for such area or areas, as may be specified in the notification.
(2) A Special Court shall consist of a single Judge who shall be appointed by the State Government with the concurrence of the High Court.
(3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a Judge of a Special Court unless he was, immediately before such appointment, an Additional District and Sessions Judge.
(4) Where the office of the Judge of a Special Court is vacant, or such Judge is absent from the ordinary place of sitting of such Special Court, or he is incapacitated by illness or otherwise for the performance of his duties, any urgent business in the Special Court shall be disposed of--
(a) by a Judge, if any, exercising jurisdiction in the Special Court;
(b) where there is no such other Judge available, in accordance with the direction of District and Sessions Judge having jurisdiction over the ordinary place of sitting of Special Court, as notified under sub-section (1).
STATE AMENDMENTS
Maharashtra.--
Amendment of section 153 of Act (36 of 2003).--In section 153 of the principal Act, after sub-section (4), the following sub-section shall be added, namely:--
"(5) Where no Special Court for any area or areas has been constituted under sub-section (1), one or more Additional District and Sessions Judges, as may be designated by the High Court, for such area or areas, from time to time, shall exercise the powers of the Special Court under this Act and any Judge so designated shall be deemed to be a special Court for the purposes of this Act."
[Vide Maharashtra Act 36 of 2005, s. 3]
Section 153, The Electricity Act, 2003 (Act 36 of 2003).
Cross-references
Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.
This section refers to
Referred to by 2
Made under this section, and citing it
2 instruments state that it was made under this provision — the power to make it comes from here, so a change to any of them changes what this section requires in practice. Newest first.
Questions about Section 153
What does Section 153 of the Electricity Act deal with?
Section 153 of the Electricity Act is headed "Constitution of Special Courts". The State Government may, for the purposes of providing speedy trial of offences referred to in [sections 135 to 140 and section 150], by notification in the Official Gazette, constitute as many Special Courts as may be necessary for such area or areas, as may be specified in the notification.
How do I find court cases under Section 153 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 153, section 153 Electricity Act 2003, section 153 of the 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 153 of the Electricity Act, and has it changed?
Its own text turns on section 135 (Theft of Electricity), section 140 (Penalty for intentionally injuring works), section 150 (Abetment), so none of them can safely be read on its own. 2 other provisions in this corpus refer back to it. The rules and notifications made under it are where it actually bites, and there are 2: most recently to exercise jurisdiction and power under the electricity Act 2003, for the area comprising within the sessions division for which they are appointed under section 9 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973. (2014), then Special Courts under Section 153 of Electricity Act-2003 (2010).
When did Section 153 of the Electricity Act come into force?
Section 153 of the Electricity Act, cited as Electricity Act 2003 153, 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 15 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.