15. Punishments
15. [Punishments].—(1) Whoever wilfully obstructs any person in doing any of the acts authorised by section 4 or section 7 or section 8 or wilfully fills up, destroys, damages or displaces any trench or mark made under section 4 or wilfully does any act prohibited under section 9, shall,---
for the first contravention, be liable to penalty which may extend to one lakh rupees;
for the second or any subsequent contraventions, be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months, or with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees, or with both.
Whoever wilfully makes or causes to make any unauthorised connection with or removes, destroys, damages or displaces any pipeline laid under section 7, or wilfully inserts any device to extract petroleum product or minerals from such pipeline, or wilfully disrupts supplies being made through the pipeline, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to [three years] and shall also be liable to fine.
If any person convicted of an offence under sub-section (2) is again convicted of an offence under the same provision, he shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for the second and for every subsequent offence for a term which shall not be less than three years but which may extend to ten years:
Provided that the court may, for any adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than three years.
Whoever, with the intent to cause or knowing that he is likely to cause damage to or destruction of any pipeline laid under section 7, causes by fire, explosive substance or otherwise damage to the pipeline being used for transportation of petroleum products, crude oil or gas with the intent to commit sabotage or with the knowledge that such act is so imminently dangerous that it may in all probability cause death of any person or such bodily injury likely to cause death of any person, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment which shall not be less than [five years but may extend to imprisonment for life].
Amendment notes (5)
- 1Subs w.e.f. 17-2-2012 Subs. by Act 9 of 2012, s. 2, for sections 15 and 16 (w.e.f. 17-2-2012).
- 2Subs w.e.f. 2-6-2026 Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch., for “Penalty” (w.e.f. 2-6-2026).
- 3Subs w.e.f. 2-6-2026 Subs. by s. 2 and Sch., ibid., for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 2-6-2026).
- 4Subs w.e.f. 2-6-2026 Subs. by s. 2 and Sch., ibid., for “ten years” (w.e.f. 2-6-2026).
- 5Subs w.e.f. 2-6-2026 Subs. by Act 8 of 2026, s. 2 and Sch., for “ten years but may extend to imprisonment for life or death” (w.e.f. 2-6-2026).