Section 15. Whoever, intmding- Whoever, intmding

15. Whoever, intmding- Whoever, intmding- For damag15. Whoever, intmding- Whoever, intmdinging, &c., telegripl~s mith intent to prevent (a) transmission, veyance or delivery of any message, (a) to prevent or obstruct the transmission, conveyance or delivery of any message, (b) to intercept or to acquaint himself with the contents 01 any message, or ( G ) to comnlit mischief, to trip, or to co~linlit mischief. ciainages, li damages, removes, tampers with, or touches, any battery, machinery, wire, cable, post or other thing whatever, bcing part of or used in or allout any telegraph or in the working thereof, shall be liable to imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years, or to fine, or to both. All offences unde~ this section shall be cognizable and non-bailable within the meaning of the Code of Criminal Proceduxe. Such offences to be cognizable and non-bailable. 16. Whenever it appears to the Director General of Telegraphs that any act cansing or likely to cause wrongful damage to any telegraph is repeatedly or maliciously committed in any place, and that the employment of an additional police force in such place is thereby rendered necessary, the Local Government may, on the application of the said Director General, send snfh additional force to sucli place, and employ the same therein so long as such necessity continues ; Power to employ additional police in places where mischief to telegraphs is repeatedly committed. q n d the inhabitants of such place shall be charged with the cost of such additional police force ; and the Local Government m y by order in each case define the limits of any place for the purposes of tliis section ; and the Magistrate of the District, after enquiry if necessary, sha,ll, subject to the orders of the Local Government, assess the proportion in whicli such cost is to be paid by the said inhabitants according to his judgment of their respective means. All monies payable under this section shall be recoverable either under the warrant of a Magistrate by distress and sale of the goods of tlie defaulter within tlie local liillzits of such 3!a8gistrateYs jurisdiction, or by suit in any coiiil~etent Court, and sliall be applied to the lilaintenance of the police force, or otherwise as 1,11(: Goverilor Genernl in Couucil iiiay fro111 time to time direct.