Lok Sabha approved the Amendments to the Petroleum and Minerals Pipeline Act

The Lok Sabha on 12 December 2011 passed the amendments to the Petroleum and Minerals Pipelines (Acquisition of Right of User in Land) Act, 1962.

 The Bill aims to make provisions for sufficient deterrence to criminals from committing the offence of pilferage or sabotage. The existing sub-section (2) of section 15 provides that whoever willfully removes, displaces, damages or destroys any pipeline, shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment of a term which shall not be less than one year, but which may extend to three years and shall also be liable to fine. Section 16 provides that offence under sub-section 15 shall be deemed to be cognizable under the Cod of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

The proposed amendments provide for higher quantum of punishment in terms of imprisonment and provision for death penalty in rare cases where the Act of sabotage is dangerous and is likely to cause death of any other person. The Bill further proposes to amend section 16 of the aforesaid Act to make the offences under sub-section (2), (3) of section 15 of the said Act to be cognizable and non-bailable. The amendment to the act was necessary to prevent pilferage of petroleum by organized gangs and saboteurs.