TAMALAMPUDI SATYANARAYANA REDDY Vs. STATE OF A P

JUDGEMENT

(1.) In these two Criminal Revision Cases, a common question of law arises. Hence, they are disposed of through a common judgment.

(2.) The petitioner is the consumer of A.P. Electricity Board (since reconstituted into A.P. Transco and A.P. Genco - hereinafter referred to as 'the Board'). He is being supplied power through SC. Nos.39210 and 33096.

(3.) On 28-2-1997, an inspection by the Anti-Power Theft Squad of the Board look place. On noticing that power was being pilfered by the petitioner, the prosecution booked cases and they were tried as C.C. Nos. 55 and 56 of 1998 on the file of the II Additional JMFC, Rajahmundry. The Trial Court found the petitioner guilty of the offence under Section 39 of the Indian Electricity Act (hereinafter referred to as 'the Act') and sentenced him to suffer rigorous imprisonment for one year in each case and directed that the sentence in both the cases shall run concurrently. Aggrieved thereby, the petitioner filed Criminal Appeal Nos. 210 and 211 of 1998 in the Court of the V Additional Sessions Judge (FTC), East Godavari District, Rajahmundry.