THE ARMY ACT, 1950[PART II]

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CHAPTER VII

PUNISHMENTS

 

 

71.Punishments awardable by courts-martial.

71. Punishments awardable by courts-martial. Punishments may be inflicted in respect of offences committed by persons subject to this
Act and convicted by courts-martial, according to the scale following, that is to say,-

(a) death;

(b) transportation for life or for any period not less than seven years;

(c) imprisonment, either rigorous or simple, for any period not exceeding fourteen years;

(d) cashiering, in the case of officers;

(e) dismissal from the service;

(f) reduction to the ranks or to a lower rank or grade or place in the list of their rank, in the case of warrant officers;
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1 Explanation omitted by Act 13, of 1975, s.3 (w.e.f.15-1-1975).
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239.and reduction to the ranks or to a lower rank or grade, in the case of non-commissioned officers:

Provided that a warrant officer reduced to the ranks shall not be required to serve in the ranks as a sepoy ;

(g) forfeiture of seniority of rank, in the case of officers, junior commissioned officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers; and forfeiture of all or any part of their service for the purpose of promotion, in the case of any of them whose promotion depends upon length of service ;

(h) forfeiture of service for the purpose of increased pay, pension or any other prescribed purpose;

(i) severe reprimand or reprimand, in the case of officers,junior commissioned officers, warrant officers and noncommissioned officers ;

(j) forfeiture of pay and allowances for a period not exceeding three months for an offence committed on active service;

(k) forfeiture in the case of a person sentenced to cashiering or dismissal from the service of all arrears of pay and allowances and other public money due to him at the time of such cashiering or dismissal ;

(l) stoppage of pay and allowances until any proved loss or damage occasioned by the offence of which he is convicted is made good.

72.Alternative punishments awardable by court-martial.

72. Alternative punishments awardable by court-martial. Subject to the provisions of this Act, a court-martial may, on convicting a person subject to this Act of any of the offences specified in sections 34 to 68 inclusive, award either the particular punishment with which the offence is stated in the said sections to be punishable, or, in lieu thereof, any one of the punishments lower in the scale set out in section 71, regard being had to the nature and degree of the offence.

73.Combination of punishments.

73. Combination of punishments. A sentence of a court-martial may award in addition to, or without any one other punishment, the punishment specified in clause (d) or clause (e) of section 71 and any one or more of the punishments specified in clauses (f) to (l) of that section.

74.Cashiering of officers.

74. Cashiering of officers. An officer shall be sentenced to be cashiered before he is awarded any of the punishments specified in clauses (a) to (c) of section 71.1***

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1 Omitted by Act 37 of 1992, s.2.———————————————————————–

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77.Result of certain punishments in the case of a warrant officer or non-commissioned officer.

77. Result of certain punishments in the case of a warrant officer or non-commissioned officer. A warrant officer or a non-
commissioned officer sentenced by a court-martial to transportation, imprisonment, 2*** or dismissal from the service, shall be deemed to be reduced to ranks.

78.Retention in the ranks of a person convicted on active service.

78. Retention in the ranks of a person convicted on active service. When., on active service, any enrolled person has been sen-
tenced by a court-martial to dismissal, or to transportation or im-
prisonment whether combined with dismissal or not, the prescribed officer may direct that such person may be retained to serve in the ranks, and such service shall be reckoned as part of his term of transportation or imprisonment, if any.

79.Punishments otherwise than by court-martial.

79. Punishments otherwise than by court-martial. Punishments may also be inflicted in respect of offences committed by persons subject to this Act without the intervention of a court-martial and in the manner stated in sections 80, 83, 84 and 85.80.

Punishment of persons other than officers, junior commissionedofficers and warrant officers.

80. Punishment of persons other than officers, junior commissioned officers and warrant officers. Subject to the provisions of section 81, a commanding officer or such other officer as is, with the consent of the Central Government, specified by 1[the Chief of the
Army Staff], may, in the prescribed manner, proceed against a person subject to this Act other. wise than as an officer, junior commissioned officer or warrant officer who is charged with an offence under this Act and award such person, to the extent prescribed, one or more of the following punishments, that is to say,-

(a) imprisonment in military custody up to twenty-eight days;

(b) detention up to twenty-eight days;

(c) confinement to the lines up to twenty-eight days;

(d) extra guards or duties ;

(e) deprivation of a, position of the nature of an appointment or of corps or working pay, and in the case of noncommissioned officers, also deprivation of acting rank or reduction to a lower grade of pay ;

(f) forfeiture of good service and good conduct pay

(g) severe reprimand or reprimand

(h) fine up to fourteen days pay in any one month;

(i) penal deductions under clause (g) of section 91.———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955. s. 2 and Sch., for ” the Commander-
in-Chief”.

2 Omitted by Act 37 of 1992, s.3.———————————————————————-

241.81.Limit of punishments under section 80.

81. Limit of punishments under section 80. 3 * * *.

(2) In the case of an award of two or more of the punishments specified in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of the said section, the punishment specified in clause (c) or clause (d) shall take effect only at the end of the punishment specified in clause (a) or clause
(b).

(3) When two or more of the punishments specified in the said clauses (a), (b) and (c) are awarded to a person conjointly, or when already undergoing one or more of the said punishments, the whole extent of the punishments shall not exceed in the aggregate forty-two days.

(4) The punishments specified in clauses 4[ (a), (b) and (c)] of section 80 shall not be awarded to any person who is of the rank of non-commissioned officer or was, at the time of committing the offence for which he is punished, of such rank.

(5) The punishment specified in clause (g) of the said section shall not be awarded to any person below the rank of a non-
commissioned officer.

82.Punishments in addition to those specified in section 80.

82. Punishments in addition to those specified in section 80.
1[The Chief of the Army Staff] may, with the consent of the Central
Government, specify such other punishments as may be awarded under section 80 in addition to or without any of the punishments specified in the said section, and the extent to which such other punishments may be awarded.

83.Punishment of officers, junior commissioned officers and warrantofficers by brigade commanders and others.

83. Punishment of officers, junior commissioned officers and warrant officers by brigade commanders and others. An officer having power not less than a brigade, or an equivalent commander or such other officer as is, with the consent of the Central Government, specified by 1 [the Chief of the Army Staff ] may in the prescribed manner, proceed against an officer below the rank of a field officer, a junior commissioned officer or a warrant officer, who is charged with an offence under this Act, and award one or more of the following punishments, that is to say,-

(a) severe reprimand or reprimand;

(b) stoppage of pay and, allowances until any proved loss or damage occasioned by the offence of which he is convicted is made good.

84.Punishment of officers, junior commissioned officers and warrantofficers by area commanders and others.

84. Punishment of officers, junior commissioned officers and warrant officers by area commanders and others. An officer having power not less than an area commander or an equivalent commander or an officer empowered to convene a general court-martial or such other officer as is, with the consent of the Central Government, specified by 1[the Chief of the Army Staff]

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1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for “the Commander-in-
Chief”.
2 Omitted by Act 37 of 1992, s.4.3 Omitted by s.5, ibid.
4 Subs. by s.5, ibid.
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242.

may, in the prescribed manner, proceed against an officer below the rank of lieutenant-colonel, a junior commissioned officer or a warrant officer, who is charged with an offence under this Act, and award one or more of the following punishments, that is to say,-

(a) forfeiture of seniority, or in the case of any of them whose promotion depends upon length of service, forfeiture of service for the purpose of promotion for a period not exceeding twelve months, but subject to the right of the accused previous to the award to elect to be tried by a court-martial;

(b) severe reprimand or reprimand;

(c) stoppage of pay and allowances until any proved loss or damage occasioned by the offence of which he is convicted is made good.

85.Punishment of junior commissioned officers.

85. Punishment of junior commissioned officers. A commanding officer or such other officer as is, with the consent of the Central
Government, specified by 1[the Chief of the Army Staff] may, in the prescribed manner, proceed against a junior commissioned officer who is charged with an offence under this Act 2[and award one or more of the following punishments, that is to say,-

(i) severe reprimand or reprimand;

(ii) stoppage of pay and allowances until any proved loss or damage occasioned by the offence of which he is convicted is made good:

Provided that the punishment specified in clause (i) shall not be awarded if the commanding officer or such other officer is below the rank of Colonel]

86.Transmission of proceedings.

86. Transmission of proceedings. In every case in which punishment has been awarded under any of the sections 83, 84 and 85, certified true copies of the proceedings shall be forwarded, in the prescribed manner, by the officer awarding the punishment, to a superior military authority as defined in section 88.87.Review of proceedings.

87. Review of proceedings. If any punishment awarded under any of the sections 83, 84 and 85 appears to a superior military authority as defined in section 88 to be illegal, unjust or excessive, such authority may cancel, vary or remit the punishment and make such other direction as may be appropriate in the circumstances of the case.

88. Superior military authority. For the purpose of sections 86.and 87, a ” superior military authority ” means-

(a) in the case of punishments awarded by a commanding officer, any officer superior in command to such commanding officer;

(b) in the case of punishments awarded by any other authority, the Central Government, 1[the Chief of the Army
Staff] or other officer specified by 1[the Chief of the Army
Staff]
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1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for the Commander-in-
Chief”.

2 Subs. by Act 37 of 1992, s.6.———————————————————————-

89. Collective fines. (1) Whenever any weapon or part of a weapon forming part of the equipment of a half squadron, battery, company or other similar unit is lost or stolen, the officer commanding the army, army corps, division or independent brigade to which such unit belongs may, after obtaining the report of a court of inquiry, impose a collective fine upon the junior commissioned officers, warrant officers, non-commissioned officers and men of such unit, or upon so many of them as, in his judgment, should be held responsible for such loss or theft.

(2) Such fine shall be assessed as a percentage on the pay of the individuals on whom it falls.

CHAPTER VIII

PENAL DEDUCTIONS

 

 

90. Deductions from pay and allowances of officers. The following penal deductions may be made from the pay and allowances of an officer, that is to say,-

(a) all pay and allowances due to an officer for every day he absents himself without leave, unless a satisfactory explanation has been given to his commanding officer and has been approved by the Central Government;

(b) all pay and allowances for every day while he is in custody or under suspension from duty on a charge for an offence for which he is afterwards convicted by a criminal court or a court-martial or by an officer exercising authority under section 83 or section 84 ;

(c) any sum required to make good the pay of any person subject to this Act which he has unlawfully retained or unlawfully refused to pay;

(d) any sum required to make good such compensation for any expenses, loss, damage or destruction occasioned by the commission of an offence as may be determined by the court-
martial by whom he is convicted of such offence, or by an officer exercising authority under section 83 or section 84.(e) all pay and allowances ordered by a court-martial 1***
to be forfeited or stopped;

(f) any sum required to pay a fine awarded by a criminal court or a court-martial exercising jurisdiction under section 69 ;
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1 Omitted by Act 37 of 1992,s.7.———————————————————————-

244.(g) any sum required to make good any loss, damage, or destruction of public or regimental property which, after due investigation, appears to the Central Government to have been occasioned by the wrongful act or negligence on the part of the officer;

(h) all pay and allowances forfeited by order of the
Central Government if the officer is found by a court of inquiry constituted by 1 [the Chief of the Army Staff ] in this behalf, to have deserted to the enemy, or while in enemy hands, to have served with, or under the orders of, the enemy, or in any manner to have aided the enemy, or to have allowed himself to be taken prisoner by the enemy through want of due precaution or through disobedience of orders or wilful neglect of duty, or having been taken prisoner by the enemy, to have failed to rejoin his service when it was possible to do so ;

(i) any sum required by order of the Central Government
2[or any prescribed officers] to be paid for the maintenance of his wife or his legitimate or illegitimate child or towards the cost of any relief given by the said Government to the said wife or child.

91.Deductions from pay and allowances of persons other than officers.

91. Deductions from pay and allowances of persons other than officers. Subject to the provisions of section 94 the following penal deductions may be made from the pay and allowances of a person subject to this, Act other than an officer, that is to say,-

(a) all pay and allowances for every day of absence either on desertion or without leave, or as a prisoner of war, and for every day of transportation or imprisonment awarded by a criminal court, a court-martial or an officer exercising authority under section 80 3***

(b) all pay and allowances for every day while he is in custody on a charge for an offence of which he is afterwards convicted by a criminal court or a court-martial, or on a charge of absence without leave for which he is afterwards awarded imprisonment 3*** by an officer exercising authority under section 80;

(c) all pay and allowances for every day on which he is in hospital on account of sickness certified by the medical officer attending on him to have been caused by an offence under this Act committed by him;

(d) for every day on which he is in hospital on account of sickness certified by the medical officer attending on him

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1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for ” the Commander-
in-Chief”.

2 Ins. by Act 37 of 1992, s.7.3 Omitted by s.8, ibid.
———————————————————————–

245.

to have been caused by his own misconduct or imprudence, such sum as may be specified by order of the Central Government or such officer as may be specified by that Government;

(e) all pay and allowances ordered by a court-martial or by an officer exercising authority under any of the sections 80,
83, 84 and 85, to be forfeited or stopped ;

(f) all pay and allowances for every day between his being recovered from the enemy and his dismissal from the service in consequence of his conduct when being taken prisoner by, or while in the hands of, the enemy;

(g) any sum required to make good such compensation for any expenses, loss, damage or destruction caused by him to the
Central Government or to any building or property as may be awarded by his commanding officer;

(h) any sum required to, pay a fine awarded by a criminal court, a court-martial exercising jurisdiction under section
69, or an officer exercising authority under any of the sections 80 and 89 ;

(i) any sum required by order of the Central Government or any prescribed officer to be paid for the maintenance of his wife or his legitimate or illegitimate child or towards the cost of any relief given by the said Government to the said wife or child.

92.Computation of time of absence or custody.

92. Computation of time of absence or custody. For the purposes of clauses (a) and (b) of section 91,-

(a) no person shall be treated as absent or in custody for a day unless the absence or custody has lasted, whether wholly in one day, or partly in one day and partly in another, for six consecutive hours or upwards;

(b) any absence or custody for less than a day may be reckoned as absence or custody for a day if such absence or custody prevented the absentee from fulfilling any military duty which was thereby thrown upon some other person;

(c) absence or custody for twelve consecutive hours or upwards may be reckoned as absence or custody for the whole of each day during any portion of which the person was absent or in custody;

(d) a period of absence, or imprisonment, which commences before, and ends after, midnight may be reckoned as a day.

93.Pay and allowances during trial.

93. Pay and allowances during trial. In the case of any person subject to this Act who is in custody or under suspension from duty on a charge for an offence, the

246.
prescribed officer may direct that the whole or any part of the pay and allowances of such person shall be withheld, pending the result of his trial on the charge against him, in order to give effect to the provisions of clause (b) of sections 90 and 91.94.Limit of certain deductions.

94. Limit of certain deductions. The total deductions from the pay and allowances of a person made under clauses (e), (g) to (i) of section 91 shall not, except where he is sentenced to dismissal, exceed in any one month one-half of his pay and allowances for that month.

95.Deduction from public money due to a person.

95. Deduction from public money due to a person. Any sum authorised by this Act to be deducted from the pay and allowances of any person may, without prejudice to any other mode of recovering the same, be deducted from any public money due to him other than a pension.

96.Pay and allowances of prisoner of war during inquiry into his conduct.

96. Pay and allowances of prisoner of war during inquiry into his conduct. Where the conduct of any person subject to this Act when being taken prisoner by, or while in the hands of, the enemy, is to be inquired into under this Act or any other law, 1[the Chief of the Army
Staff] or any officer authorised by him may order that the whole or any part of the pay and allowances of such person shall be withheld pending the result of such inquiry.

97.Remission of deductions.

97. Remission of deductions. Any deduction from pay and allowances authorised by this Act may be remitted in such manner and to such extent, and by such authority, as may from time to time be prescribed.

98.Provision for dependants of prisoner of war from remitted deductions.

98. Provision for dependants of prisoner of war from remitted deductions. In the case of all persons subject to this Act, being prisoners of war, whose pay and allowances have been forfeited under clause (h) of section 90 or clause (a) of section 91, but in respect of whom a remission has been made under section 97, it shall be lawful for proper provision to be made by the prescribed authorities out of such pay and allowances for any dependants of such persons, and any such remission shall in that case be deemed to apply only to the balance thereafter remaining of such pay and allowances.

99. Provision for dependants of prisoner war from his pay and allowances. It shall be lawful for proper provision to be made by the prescribed authorities for any dependants of any person subject to this Act who is a prisoner of war or is missing, out of his pay and allowances.

100. Period during which a person is deemed to be a prisoner of war. For the purposes of sections 98 and 99, a person shall be deemed to continue to be a prisoner of war until the conclusion of any inquiry into his conduct such as is referred to in section 96, and if he is cashiered or dismissed from the service in consequence of such conduct, until the date of such cashiering or dismissal.

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1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for “the Commander-in-
Chief

CHAPTER IX

ARREST AND PROCEEDINGS BEFORE TRIAL

 

 

101. Custody of offenders. (1) Any person subject to this Act who is charged with an offence may be taken into military custody.

(2) Any such person may be ordered into military custody by any superior officer.

(3) An officer may order into military custody any officer, though he may be of a higher rank, engaged in a quarrel, affray or disorder.

102.Duty of commanding officer in regard to detention.

102. Duty of commanding officer in regard to detention. (1) It shall be the duty of every commanding officer to take care that a person under his command when charged with an offence is not detained in custody for more than forty-eight hours after the committal of such person into custody is reported to him, without the charge being investigated, unless investigation within that period seems to him to be impracticable having regard to the public service.

(2) The case of every person being detained in custody beyond a period of forty-eight hours, and the reason thereof, shall be reported by the commanding officer to the general or other officer to whom application would be made to convene a general or district court-
martial for the trial of the person charged.

(3) In reckoning the period of forty-eight hours specified in sub-section (1), Sundays and other public holidays shall be excluded.

(4) Subject to the provisions of this Act, the Central
Government may make rules providing for the manner in which and the period for which any person subject to this Act may be taken into and detained in military custody, pending the trial by any competent authority for any offence committed by him.

103.Interval between committal and court-martial.

103. Interval between commital and court-martial. In every case where any such person as is mentioned in section 101 and as is not on active service remains in such custody for a longer period than eight days, without a court-martial for his trial being ordered to assemble, a special report giving reasons for the delay shall be made by his commanding officer in the manner prescribed, and a similar report shall be forwarded at intervals of every eight days until a court-
martial is assembled or such person is released from custody.

104.Arrest by civil authorities.

104. Arrest by civil authorities. Whenever any person subject to this Act, who is accused of any offence under this Act, is within the jurisdiction of any magistrate or police officer, such magistrate or police officer shall aid in the apprehension and delivery to military custody of such person upon receipt of a written application to that effect signed by his commanding officer.

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105.Capture of deserters.

105. Capture of deserters. (1) Whenever any person subject to this Act deserts, the commanding officer of the corps, department or detachment to which he belongs, shall give written information of the desertion to such civil authorities as, in his opinion, may be able to afford assistance towards the capture of the deserter ; and such authorities shall thereupon take steps for the apprehension of the said deserter in like manner as if he were a person for whose apprehension a warrant had been issued by a magistrate, and shall deliver the deserter. when apprehended, into military custody.

(2) Any police officer may arrest without warrant any person reasonably believed to be subject to this Act, and to be a deserter or to be travelling without authority, and shall bring him without delay before the nearest magistrate, to be dealt with according to law.

106.Inquiry into absence without leave.

106. Inquiry into absence without leave. (1) When any person subject to this Act has been absent from his duty without due authority for a period of thirty days, a court of inquiry shall, as soon as practicable, be assembled, and such court shall, on oath or affirmation administered in the prescribed manner, inquire respecting the absence of the person, and the deficiency, if any, in the property of the Government entrusted to his care, or in any arms, ammunition, equipment, instruments, clothing or necessaries ; and if satisfied of the fact of such absence without due authority or other sufficient cause, the court shall declare such absence and the period thereof, and the said deficiency, if any, and the commanding officer of the corps or department to which the person belongs shall enter in the court-martial book of the corps or department a record of the declaration.

(2) If the person declared absent does not afterwards surrender or is not apprehended, he. shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed to be a deserter.

107.Provost-marshals.

107. Provost-marshals. (1) Provost-marshals may be appointed by
1[the Chief of the Army Staff] or by any prescribed officer.

(2) The duties of a provost-marshal are to take charge of persons confined for any offence, to preserve good order and discipline, and to prevent breaches of the same by persons serving in, or attached to, the regular Army.

(3) A provost-marshal may act any time arrest and detain for trial any person subject to this Act who commits, or is charged with, an offence, and may also carry into effect any punishment to be inflicted in pursuance of the sentence awarded by a court-martial, or by an officer exercising authority under section 80 but shall not inflict any punishment on his own authority:

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1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for ” the Commander-in-
Chief”.—————————————————
249.

Provided that no officer shall be so arrested or detained otherwise than on the order of another officer.

(4) For the purposes of sub-sections (2) and (3), a provost-
marshal shall be deemed to include a provost-marshal appointed under any law for the time being in force relating to the Government of the
Navy or Air Force, and any person legally exercising authority under him or on his behalf.

CHAPTER X

COURTS-MARTIAL

 

 

108. Kinds of courts-martial. For the purposes of this Act there shall be four kinds of courts-martial, that is to say,-

(a) general courts-martial ;

(b) district courts-martial ;

(c) summary general courts-martial; and

(d) summary courts-martial.

109.Power to convene a general court-martial.

109. Power to convene a general court-martial. A general court-
martial may be convened by the Central Government or 1 [the Chief of the Army Staff ] or by any officer empowered in this behalf by warrant of 1 [the Chief of the Army Staff ].

110.Power to convene a district court-martial.

110. Power to convene a district court-martial. A district court-
martial may be convened by an officer having power to convene a general court-martial or by any officer empowered in this behalf by warrant of any such officer.

111.Contents of warrants issued under sections 109 and 110.111. Contents of warrants issued under sections 109 and 110. A
warrant issued under section 109 or section 110 may contain such restrictions, reservations or conditions as the officer issuing, it may think fit.

112.Power to convene a summary general court-martial.

112. Power to convene a summary general court-martial. The following authorities shall have power to convene a summary general court-martial, namely,-

(a) an officer empowered in this behalf by an order of the
Central Government or of 1[the Chief of the Army Staff];

(b) on active service, the officer commanding the forces in the field, or any officer empowered by him in this behalf;

(c) an officer commanding any detached portion of the regular Army on active service when, in his opinion, it is not practicable, with due regard to discipline and the exi-
gencies of the service, that an offence should be tried by a general court-martial.

113.Composition of general court-martial.

113. Composition of general court-martial. A general court-
martial shall consist of not less than five officers, each of whom has held a commission for not less than three

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1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2, and Sch., for.” the
Commander-in-Chief “.
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250

whole years and of whom not less than four are of a rank not below that of captain.

114.Composition of district court-martial.

114. Composition of district court-martial. A district court-
martial shall consist of not less than three officers, each of whom has held a commission for not less than two whole years.

115.Composition of summary general court-martial.

115. Composition of summary general court-martial. A summary general court-martial shall consist of not less than three officers.

116.Summary court-martial.

116. Summary court-martial. (1) A summary court-martial may be held by the commanding officer of any corps, department or detachment of the regular Army, and he shall alone constitute the court.

(2) The proceedings shall be attended throughout by two other persons who shall be officers or junior commissioned officers or one of either, and who shall not as such, be sworn or affirmed.

117.Dissolution of courts-martial.

117. Dissolution of courts-martial. (1) If a court-martial after the commencement of a trial is reduced below the minimum number of officers required by this Act, it shall be dissolved.

(2) If, on account of the illness of the judge advocate or of the accused before the finding, it is impossible to continue the trial, a court-martial shall be dissolved.

(3) The officer who convened a court-martial may dissolve such court-martial if it appears to him that military exigencies or the necessities of discipline render it impossible or inexpedient to continue the said court-martial.

(4) Where a court-martial is dissolved under this section, the accused may be tried again.

118.Powers of general and summary general courts-martial.

118. Powers of general and summary general courts-martial. A
general or summary general court-martial shall have power to try any person subject to this Act for any offence punishable therein and to pass any sentence authorised thereby.

119.Powers of district courts-martial.

119. Powers of district courts-martial. A district court-
martial shall have power to try any person subject to this Act other than an officer or a junior commissioned officer for any offence made punishable therein, and to pass any sentence authorised by this
Act other than a sentence of death, transportation, or imprisonment for a term exceeding two years:

Provided that a district court-martial shall not sentence a warrant officer to imprisonment.

120.Powers of summary courts-martial.

120. Powers of summary courts-martial. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (2), a summary court-martial may try any offence punishable under this Act.

(2) When there is no grave reason for immediate action and reference can without detriment to discipline be made to the officer empowered to convene a district court-martial or on active service

251.

a summary general court-martial for the trial of the alleged offender, an officer holding a summary court-martial shall not try without such reference any offence punishable under any of the sections 34, 37 and
69, or any offence against the officer holding the court.

(3) A summary court-martial may try any person subject to this
Act and under the command of the officer holding the court, except an officer, junior commissioned officer or warrant officer.

(4) A summary court-martial may pass any sentence which may be passed under this Act, except a sentence of death or transportation, or of imprisonment for a term exceeding the limit specified in sub-
section (5).

(5) The limit referred to in sub-section (4) shall be one year if the officer holding the summary court-martial is of the rank of lieutenantcolonel and upwards, and three months if such officer is below that rank.

121.Prohibition of second trial.

121. Prohibition of second trial. When any person subject to this
Act has been acquitted or convicted of an offence by a court-martial or by a criminal court, or has been dealt with under any of the sections 80, 83, 84 and 85, he shall not be liable to be tried again for the same offence by a court-
martial or dealt with under the said sections.

122.Period of limitation for trial.

122. Period of limitation for trial. (1) Except as provided by sub-section (2), no trial by court-martial of any person subject to this Act for any offence shall be commenced after the expiration of a period of three years 1[and such period shall commence,-

(a) on the date of the offence; or

(b) where the commission of the offence was not known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the authority com-
petent to initiate action, the first day on which such offence comes to the knowledge of such person or authority, whichever is earlier; or

(c) where it is not known by whom the offence was com-
mitted, the first day on which the identity of the offender is known to the person aggrieved by the offence or to the authority competent to initiate action,whichever is earlier.]

(2) The provisions of sub-section (1) shall not apply to a trial for an offence of desertion or fraudulent enrolment or for any of the offences mentioned in section 37.(3) In the computation of the period of time mentioned in sub-
section (1), any time spent by such person as a prisoner of war, or in enemy territory, or in evading arrest after the commission of the offence, shall be excluded.

(4) No trial for an offence of desertion other than desertion on active service or of fraudulent enrolment shall be commenced if the person in question, not being an officer, has subsequently to the commission of the offence, served continuously in an exemplary manner for not less than three years with any portion of the regular Army.

123.Liability of offender who ceases to be subject to Act.

123. Liability of offender who ceases to be subject to Act. (1)
Where an offence under this Act had been committed by any person while subject to this Act, and he has ceased to be so subject, he may be taken into and kept in military custody, and tried and punished for such offence as if he continued to be so subject.

———————————————————————–
1 Subs. by Act 37 of 1992, s.9.———————————————————————–

252.
(2) No such person shall be tried for an offence, unless his trial commences 1[within a period of three years after he had ceased to be subject to this Act; and in computing such period, the time during which such person has avoided arrest by absconding or concealing himself or where the institution of the proceeding in respect of the offence has been stayed by an injunction or order, the period of the continuance of the injunction or order, the day on which it was issued or made, and the day on which it was withdrawn, shall be excluded:]

Provided that nothing contained in this sub-section shall apply to the trial of any such person for an offence of desertion or fraudulent enrolment or for any of the offences mentioned in section
37 or shall affect the jurisdiction of a criminal court to try any offence triable by such court as well as by a court-martial.

(3) When a person subject to this Act is sentenced by a court-
martial to transportation or imprisonment, this Act shall apply to him during the term of his sentence, though he is cashiered or dismissed from the regular Army, or has otherwise ceased to be subject to this
Act, and he may be kept, removed, imprisoned and punished as if he continued to be subject to this Act.

(4) When a person subject to this Act is sentenced by a court-
martial to death, this Act shall apply to him till the sentence is carried out.

124.Place of trial.

124. Place of trial. Any person subject to this Act who commits any offence against it may be tried and punished for such offence in any place whatever.

125. Choice between criminal court and court-martial. When a criminal court and a court-martial have each jurisdiction in respect of an offence, it shall be in the discretion of the officer commanding the army, army corps, division or independent brigade in which the accused person is serving or such other officer as may be prescribed to decide before which court the proceedings shall be instituted, and, if that officer decides that they should be instituted before a court-
martial, to direct that the accused person shall be detained in military custody.
126. Power of criminal court to require delivery of offender. (1)
When a criminal court having jurisdiction is of opinion that proceedings shall be instituted before itself in respect of any alleged offence, it may, by written notice, require the officer referred to in section 125 at his option, either to deliver over the offender to the nearest magistrate to be proceeded against according to law, or to postpone proceedings pending a reference to the Central
Government.

(2) In every such case the said officer shall either deliver over the offender in compliance with the requisition, or shall forthwith refer the question as to the court before which the proceedings are to be instituted for the determination of the Central
Government, whose order upon such reference shall be final.

CHAPTER XI

PROCEDURE OF COURTS-MARTIAL

 

 

128. Presiding officer. At every general, district or summary general court-martial the senior member shall be the presiding officer.

129. Judge advocate. Every general court-martial shall, and every district or summary general court-martial may, be attended by a judge advocate, who shall be either an officer belonging to the department of the Judge Advocate General, or if no such officer is available, an officer approved of by the Judge Advocate General or any of his deputies.

130. Challenges. (1) At all trials by general, district or summary general court-martial, as soon as the court is assembled, the names of the presiding officer and members shall be read over to the accused, who shall thereupon be asked whether he objects to being tried by any officer sitting on the court.

(2) If the accused objects to any such officer, his objection, and also the reply thereto of the officer objected to, shall be heard and recorded, and the remaining officers of the court shall, in the absence of the challenged officer decide on the objection.

(3) If the objection is allowed by one-half or more of the votes of the officers entitled to vote, the objection shall be allowed, and the member objected to shall retire, and his vacancy may be filled in the prescribed manner by another officer subject to the same right of the accused to object.

(4) When no challenge is made, or when challenge has been made and disallowed, or the place of every officer successfully challenged has been filled by another officer to whom no objection is made or allowed, the court shall proceed with the trial.

131. Oaths of member, judge advocate and witness. (1) An oath or affirmation in the prescribed manner shall be administered to every member of every court-martial and to the judge advocate before the commencement of the trial.

(2) Every person giving evidence before a court-martial shall be examined after being duly sworn or affirmed in the prescribed form.

(3) The provisions of sub-section (2) shall not apply where the witness is a child under twelve years of age and the court-martial is of opinion that though the witness understands the duty of

254.

speaking the truth, he does not understand the nature of an oath or affirmation.

132.Voting by members.

132. Voting by members. (1) Subject to the provisions of sub-
sections (2) and (3), every decision of a court-martial shall be passed by an absolute majority of votes ; and where there is an equality of votes on either the finding or the sentence, the decision shall be in favour of the accused.

(2) No sentence of death shall be passed by a general court-
martial without the concurrence of at least two-thirds of the members of the court.

(3) No sentence of death shall be passed by a summary general court-martial without the concurrence of all the members.

(4) In matters, other than a challenge or the finding or sentence, the presiding officer shall have a casting vote.

133.General rule as to evidence.

133. General rule as to evidence. The Indian Evidence Act, 1872,
(1 of 1872.) shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, apply to all proceedings before a court-martial.

134.Judicial notice.

134. Judicial notice. A court-martial may take judicial notice of any matter within the general military knowledge of the members.

135.Summoning withnesses.

135. Summoning withnesses. (1) The convening officer, the presiding officer of a court-martial, 1[or courts of inquiry] the judge advocate or the commanding officer of the accused person may, by summons under his hand, require the attendance, at a time and place to be mentioned in the summons, of any person either to give evidence or to produce any document or other thing.

(2) In the case of a witness amenable to military authority, the summons shall be sent to his commanding officer, and such officer shall serve it upon him accordingly.

(3) In the case of any other witness, the summons shall be sent to the magistrate within whose jurisdiction he may be or reside, and such magistrate shall give effect to the summons as if the witness were required in the court of such magistrate.

(4) When a witness is required to produce any particular document or other thing in his possession or power, the summons shall describe it with reasonable precision.

136.Documents exempted from production.

136. Documents exempted from production. (1) Nothing in section
135 shall be deemed to affect the operation of sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act, 1872, (1 of 1872.) or to apply to any letter, postcard, telegram or other document in the custody of the postal or telegraph authorities.

(2) If any document in such custody is, in the opinion of any district magistrate, chief presidency magistrate, High Court or Court of Session, wanted for the purpose of any court-martial, such magis-
trate or Court may require the postal or telegraph authorities, as the

———————————————————————-
1 Ins. by Act 37 of 1992, s.12.———————————————————————-

255.
case may be, to deliver such document to such person as such magistrate or Court may direct.

(3) If any such document is, in the opinion of any other magistrate or of any commissioner of police or district superintendent of police, wanted for any such purpose, he may require the postal or telegraph authorities, as the case may be, to cause search to be made for and to detain such document pending the orders of any such district magistrate, chief presidency magistrate or High Court or
Court of Session.

137.Commissions for examination of withness.

137. Commissions for examination of withness. (1) Whenever, in the course of a trial by court-martial, it appears to the Court that the examination of a witness is necessary for the ends of justice, and that the attendance of such witness cannot be procured without an amount of delay, expense or inconvenience which, in the circumstances of the case, would be unreasonable, such Court may address the Judge
Advocate General in order that a commission to take the evidence of such witness may be issued.

(2) The Judge Advocate General may then, if he thinks necessary, issue a commission to any district magistrate or magistrate of the first class, within the local limits of whose jurisdiction such witness resides, to take the evidence of such witness.

(3) The magistrate or officer to whom the commission is issued, or, if he is the district magistrate, he or such magistrate of the first class as he appoints in this behalf, shall proceed to the place where the witness is or shall summon the witness before him and shall take down his evidence in the same manner, and may for this purpose exercise the same powers, as in trials of warrant-cases under the 2[
code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] (2 of 1974.) on any corresponding law in force in 1[the State of Jammu and Kashmir].

(4) When the witness resides in a tribal area or in any place outside India, the commission may be issued in the manner specified in
2[Chapter XXII of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] (2 of 1974.)
or of any corresponding law om force in 1[the State of Jammu and
Kashmir].

(5) In this and the next succeeding section, the expression
“Judge Advocate General ” includes a Deputy Judge Advocate General.

138.Examination of a withness on commission.

138. Examination of a withness on commission. (1) The prosecutors and the accused person in any case in which a commission is issued under section 137 may respectively forward any interrogatories in writing which the Court may think

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 3) Order, 1956, for ” a
Part B State”.

2 Subs. by Act 37 of 1992, s.13.———————————————————————-

256.
relevant to the issue, and the magistrate or officer executing the commission shall examine the witness upon such interrogatories.

(2) The prosecutor and the accused person may appear before such magistrate or officer by counsel or, except in the case of an accused person in custody, in person, and may examine, cross-examine and re-
examine, as the case may be, the said witness.

(3) After a commission issued under section 137 has been duly executed, it shall be returned, together with the deposition of the witness examined thereunder, to the Judge Advocate General.

(4) On receipt of a commission and deposition returned under subsection (3), the Judge Advocate General shall forward the same to the Court at whose instance the commission was issued or, if such
Court has been dissolved, to any other Court convened for the trial of the accused person ; and the commission, the return thereto and the deposition shall be open to inspection by the prosecutor and the accused person, and may, subject to all just exceptions, be read in evidence in the case by either the prosecutor or the accused, and shall form part of the proceedings of the Court.

(5) In every case in which a commission is issued under section
137, the trial may be adjourned for a specified time reasonably sufficient for the execution and return of the commission.

139.Conviction of offence not charged.

139. Conviction of offence not charged. (1) A person charged before a court-martial with desertion may be found guilty of attempting to desert or of being absent without leave.

(2) A person charged before a court-martial with attempting to desert may be found guilty of being absent without leave.

(3) A person charged before a court-martial with using criminal force may be found guilty of assault.

(4) A person charged before a court-martial with using threatening language may be found guilty of using insubordinate language.

(5) A person charged before a court-martial with any one of the offences specified in clauses (a), (b), (c) and (d) of section 52 may be found guilty of any other of these offences with which he might have been charged.

(6) A person charged before a court-martial with an offence punishable under section 69 may be found guilty of any other offence of which he might have been found guilty if the provisions of the
1[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] (2 of 1974. ) were applicable.

1. Subs by Act 37 of 1992, s. 14.256A

(7) A person charged before a court-martial with any offence under this Act, may, on failure of proof of an offence having been committed in circumstances involving a more severe punishment, be found guilty of the same offence as having been committed in circumstances involving a less severe punishment.

(8) A person charged before a court-martial with any offence under this Act may be found guilty of having attempted or abetted

257.
the commission of that offence, although the attempt or abetment is not separately charged.

140.

Presumption as to signatures.

140. Presumption as to signatures. In any proceeding under this
Act, any application, certificate, warrant, reply or other document purporting to be signed by an officer in the service of the Government shall, on production, be presumed to have been duly signed by the person by whom and in the character in which it purports to have been signed, until the contrary is shown.

141.Enrolment paper.

141. Enrolment paper. (1) Any enrolment paper purporting to be signed by an enrolling officer shall, in proceedings under this Act, be evidence of the person enrolled having given the answers to questions which he is therein represented as having given.

(2) The enrolment of such person may be proved by the production of the original or a copy of his enrolment paper purporting to be certified to be a true copy by the officer having the custody of the enrolment paper.

142.Presumption as to certain documents.

142. Presumption as to certain documents. (1) A letter, return or other document respecting the service of any person in, or the cashiering, dismissal or discharge of any person from, any portion of the regular Army, or respecting the circumstance of any person not having served in, or belonged to, any portion of the Forces, if purporting to be signed by or on behalf of the Central Government or
1[the Chief of the Army Staff], or by any prescribed officer, shall be evidence of the facts stated in such letter, return or other document.

(2) An Army, Navy or Air Force List or Gazette purporting to be published by authority shall be evidence of the status and rank of the officers, junior commissioned officers or warrant officers therein mentioned, and of any appointment held by them and of the corps, battalion or arm or branch of the services to which they belong.

(3) Where a record is made in any regimental book in pursuance of this Act or of any rules made thereunder or otherwise in pursuance of military duty, and purports to be signed by the commanding officer or by the officer whose duty it is to make such record, such record shall be evidence of the facts therein stated.

(4) A copy of any record in any regimental book purporting to be certified to be a true copy by the officer having custody of such book shall be evidence of such record.

(5) Where any person subject to this Act is being tried on a charge of desertion or of absence without leave, and such person has surrendered himself into the custody of any officer or other

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for “the Commander-in-
Chief “.
———————————————————————-

258.person subject to this Act, or any portion of the regular Army, or has been apprehended by such officer or person, a certificate purporting to be signed by such officer, or by the commanding officer of that portion of the regular Army, or by the commanding officer of the corps, department or detachment to which such person belongs, as the case may be, and stating the fact, date and place of such surrender or apprehension, and the manner in which he was dressed, shall be evidence of the matters so stated.

(6) Where any person subject to this Act is being tried on a charge of desertion or of absence without leave, and such person has surrendered himself into the custody of, or has been apprehended by, a police officer not below the rank of an officer in charge of a police station, a certificate purporting to be signed by such police officer and stating the fact, date and place of such surrender or apprehension and the manner in which he was dressed shall be evidence of the matters so stated.

(7) Any document purporting to be a report under the hand of any
Chemical Examiner or Assistant Chemical Examiner to Government
1[or any of the Government scientific experts namely, the Chief
Inspector of the Explosives, the Director of Finger Print Bureau, the
Director, Haffkeine Institute, Bombay, the Director of a Central
Forensic Science Laboratory or a State Forensic Science Laboratory and the Serologist to the Government.] upon any matter or thing duly submitted to him for examination or analysis and report may be used as evidence in any proceeding under this Act.

143.Reference by accused to Government officer.

143. Reference by accused to Government officer. (1) If at any trial for desertion or absence without leave, overstaying leave or not rejoining when warned for service, the person tried states in his defence any sufficient or reasonable excuse for his unauthorised absence, and refers in support thereof to any officer in the service of the Government, or if it appears that any such officer is likely to prove or disprove the said statement in the defence, the court shall address such officer and adjourn the proceedings until his reply is received.

(2) The written reply of any officer so referred to shall, if signed by him be received in evidence and have the same effect as if made on oath before the court.

(3) If the court is dissolved before the receipt of such reply, or if the court omits to comply with the provisions of this section, the convening officer may, at his discretion, annul the proceedings and order a, fresh trial.

144.Evidence of previous convictions and general character.

144. Evidence of previous convictions and general character. (1)
When any person subject to this Act has been convicted by a court-
martial of any offence, such court-martial may inquire into, and receive and record evidence of any previous convictions of such person, either by a court-martial or by a criminal court, or any previous award of punishment under any of the sections 80, 83, 84 and
85, and may further inquire into and record the general character of such person and such other matters as may be prescribed.

———————————————————————-
1 Ins. by Act 37 of 1992, s,15.———————————————————————-

259.(2) Evidence received under this section may be either oral, or in the shape of entries in, or certified extracts from, court-martial books or other official records ; and it shall not be necessary to give notice before trial to the person tried that evidence as to his previous convictions or character will be received.

(3) At a summary court-martial the officer holding the trial may, if he thinks fit, record any previous convictions against the offender, his general character, and such other matters as may be prescribed, as of his own knowledge, instead of requiring them to be proved under the foregoing provisions of this section.

145.Lunacy of accused.

145. Lunacy of accused. (1) Whenever, in the course of a trial by a court-martial, it appears to the court that the person charged is by reason of unsoundness of mind incapable of making his defence, or that he committed the act alleged but was by reason of unsoundness of mind incapable of knowing the nature of the act or knowing that it was wrong or contrary to law, the court shall record a finding accordingly.

(2) The presiding officer of the court, or, in the case of a summary court-martial, the officer holding the trial, shall forthwith report the case to the confirming officer, or to the authority empowered to deal with its finding under section 162, as the case may be.

(3) The confirming officer to whom the case is reported under subsection (2) may, if he does not confirm the finding, take steps to have the accused person tried by the same or another court-martial for the offence with which he was charged.

(4) The authority to whom the finding of a summary court-martial is reported under sub-section (2), and a confirming officer confirming a finding in any case so reported to him shall order the accused person to be kept in custody in the prescribed manner and shall report the case for the orders of the Central Government.

(5) On receipt of a report under sub-section (4) the Central
Government may order the accused person to be detained in a lunatic asylum or other suitable place of safe custody.

146.Subsequent fitness of lunatic accused for trial.

146. Subsequent fitness of lunatic accused for trial. Where any accused person, having been found by reason of unsoundness of mind to be incapable of making his defence, is in custody or under detention under section 145, the officer commanding the army, army corps, division or brigade within the area of whose command the accused is in custody or is detained, or any other officer prescribed in this behalf, may-

(a) if such person is in custody under sub-section (4) of section 145, on the report of a medical officer that he is capable of making his defence, or

260

(b) if such person is detained in a jail under sub-section
(5) of section 145, on a certificate of the Inspector General of Prisons, and if such person is detained in a lunatic asylum under the said sub-section on a certificate of any two or more of the visitors of such asylum that he is capable of making his defence,

take steps to have such person tried by the same or another court-
martial for the offence with which he was originally charged or, if the offence is a civil offence, by a criminal court.

147.Transmission to Central Government of orders under section 146.147. Transmission to Central Government of orders under section
146. A copy of every order made by an officer under section 146 for the trial of the accused shall forthwith be sent to the Central
Government.

148.Release of lunatic accused.

148. Release of lunatic accused. Where any person is in custody under sub-section (4) of section 145 or under detention under sub-
section (5) of that section-

(a) if such person is in custody under the said sub-section
(4), on the report of a medical officer, or

(b) if such person is detained under the said sub-section
(5), on a certificate from any of the authorities mentioned in clause (b) of section 146 that, in the judgment of such officer or authority such person may be released without danger of his doing injury to himself or to any other person,

the Central Government may order that such person be released or detained in custody, or transferred to a public lunatic asylum if he has not already been sent to such an asylum.

149.Delivery of lunatic accused to relatives.

149. Delivery of lunatic accused to relatives. Where any relative or friend of any person who is in custody under sub-section
(4) of section 145 or under detention under sub-section (5) of that section desires that he should be delivered to his care and custody, the Central Government may upon application by such relative or friend and on his giving security to the satisfaction of that Government that the person delivered shall be properly taken care of and prevented from doing injury to himself or any other person, and be produced for the inspection of such officer, and at such times and places, as the
Central Government may direct, order such person to be delivered to such relative or friend.

150.

Order for custody and disposal of property pending trial.

150. Order for custody and disposal of property pending trial.
When any property regarding which any offence appears to have been committed, or which appears to have been used for the commission of any offence, is produced before a court-martial during a trial, the court may make such order as it thinks fit for the proper custody of such property pending the conclusion of the trial, and if the property is subject to speedy or natural decay may, after recording such evidence as it thinks necessary, order it to be sold or otherwise disposed of.

261.

151.Order for disposal of property regarding which offence is committed.

151. Order for disposal of property regarding which offence is committed. (1) After the conclusion of a trial before any court-
martial, the Court or the officer confirming the finding or sentence of such court-martial, or any authority superior to such officer, or, in the case of a court-martial whose finding or sentence does not require confirmation, the officer commanding the army, army corps, division or brigade within which the trial was held, may make such order as it or he thinks fit for the disposal by destruction, confiscation, delivery to any person claiming to be entitled to possession thereof, or otherwise, of any property or document produced before the Court or in its custody, or regarding which any offence appears to have been committed or which has been used for the commission of any offence.

(2) Where any order has been made under sub-section (1) in res-
pect of property regarding which an offence appears to have been committed, a copy of such order signed and certified by the authority making the same may, whether the trial was held within India or not, be sent to a magistrate within whose jurisdiction such property for the time being is situated, and such magistrate shall thereupon cause the order to be carried into effect as if it were an order passed by him under the provisions of the 2[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] (2.of 1974),or any corresponding law in force in 1[the State of Jammu and
Kashmir].

(3) In this section the term ” property ” includes, in the case of property regarding which an offence appears to have been committed, not only such property as has been originally in the possession or under the control of any person, but also any property into or for which the same may have been converted or exchanged, and anything acquired by such conversion or exchange whether immediately or otherwise.

152.Powers of court-martial in relation to proceedings under this Act.

152. Powers of court-martial in relation to proceedings under this Act. Any trial by a court-martial under the provisions of this
Act shall be deemed to be a judicial proceeding within the meaning of sections 193 and 228 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), and the court-martial shall be deemed to be a Court within the meaning of3[Sections 345 and 346 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973]

CHAPTER XII

CONFIRMATION AND REVISION

153. Finding and sentence not valid, unless confirmed. No finding or sentence of a general, district or summary general, court-martial shall be valid except so far as it may be confirmed as provided by this Act.

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by the Adaptation of Laws (No. 3) Order, 1956 for ” a
Part B State.

2 Subs. by Act 37 of 1992, s.14.3 Subs. by s.16, ibid.
———————————————————————–

262.

154.Power to confirm finding and sentence of general court-martial.

154. Power to confirm finding and sentence of general court-
martial. The findings and sentences of general courts-martial may be confirmed by the Central Government, or by any officer empowered in this behalf by warrant of the Central Government.

155.Power to confirm finding and sentence of district court-martial.

155. Power to confirm finding and sentence of district court-
martial. The findings and sentences of district courts-martial may be confirmed by any officer having power to convene a general court-
martial or by any officer empowered in this behalf by warrant of such officer.

156.Limitation of powers of confirming authority.

156. Limitation of powers of confirming authority. A warrant issued under section 154 or section 155 may contain such restrictions, reservations or conditions as the authority issuing it may think fit.

157.Power to confirm finding and sentence of summary general court-martial.

157. Power to confirm finding and sentence of summary general court-martial. The findings and sentences of summary general courts-
martial may be confirmed by the convening officer or if he so directs, by an authority superior to him.

158.Power of confirming authority to mitigate, remit or commute sentences.

158. Power of confirming authority to mitigate, remit or commute sentences. (1) Subject to such restrictions, reservations or conditions as may be contained in any warrant issued under section 154.or section 155 and to the provision of sub-section (2), a confirming authority may, when confirming the sentence of a court-martial, mitigate or remit the punishment thereby awarded, or commute that punishment for any punishment or punishments lower in the scale laid down in section 71.(2) A sentence of transportation shall not be commuted for a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding the term of trans-
portation awarded by the Court.

159.Confirming of findings and sentences on board a ship.

159. Confirming of findings and sentences on board a ship. When any person subject to this Act is tried and sentenced by a court-
martial while on board a ship, the finding and sentence so far as not confirmed and executed on board the ship, may be confirmed and executed in like manner as if such person had been tried at the port of disembarkation.

160.

Revision of finding or sentence.

160. Revision of finding or sentence. (1) Any finding or sentence of a court-martial which requires confirmation may be once revised by order of the confirming

262A

authority and on such revision, the Court, if so directed by the con-
firming authority, may take additional evidence.

(2) The Court, on revision, shall consist of the same officers as were present when the original decision was passed, unless any of those officers are unavoidably absent.

(3) In case of such unavoidable absence the cause thereof shall be duly certified in the proceedings, and the Court shall proceed

263.
with the revision, provided that, if a general court-martial, it still consists of five officers, or, if a summary general or district court-
martial, of three officers.

161.Finding and sentence of a summary court-martial.

161. Finding and sentence of a summary court-martial. (1) Save as otherwise provided in sub-section (2), the finding and sentence of a summary court-martial shall not require to be confirmed, but may be carried out forthwith.

(2) If the officer holding the trial is of less than five years service, he shall not, except on active service, carry into effect any sentence until it has received the approval of an officer commanding not less than a brigade.

162.Transmission of proceedings of summary court-martial.

162. Transmission of proceedings of summary court-martial. The proceedings of every summary court-martial shall without delay be forwarded to the officer commanding the division or brigade within which the trial was held, or to the prescribed officer; and such officer, or 1[the Chief of the Army Staff ], or any officer empowered in this behalf by 1[the Chief of the Army Staff ], may, for reasons based on the merits of the case, but not any merely technical grounds, set aside the proceedings or reduce the sentence to any other sentence which the court might have passed.

163.Alteration of finding or sentence in certain cases.

163. Alteration of finding or sentence in certain cases. (1)
Where a finding of guilty by a court-martial, which has been confirmed, or which does not require confirmation, is found for any reason to be invalid or cannot be supported by the evidence, the authority which would have had power under section 179 to commute the punishment awarded by the sentence, if the finding had been valid, may substitute a new finding and pass a sentence for the offence specified or involved in such finding:

Provided that no such substitution shall be made unless such finding could have been validly made by the court-martial on the charge and unless it appears that the court-martial must have been satisfied of the facts establishing the said offence.

(2) Where a sentence passed by a court-martial which has been confirmed, or which does not require confirmation, not being a sen-
tence passed in pursuance of a new finding substituted under sub-
section (1), is found for any reason to be invalid, the authority referred to in sub-section (1) may pass a valid sentence.

(3) The punishment awarded by a sentence passed under sub-section
(1) or sub-section (2) shall not be higher in the scale of punishments than, or in excess of, the punishment awarded by, the sentence for which a new sentence is substituted under this section.

(4) Any finding substituted, or any sentence passed, under this section shall, for the purposes of this Act and the rules made

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for “the Commander-in-
Chief “.
———————————————————————-

264.
thereunder, have effect as if it were a finding or sentence, as the case may be, of a court-martial.

164.Remedy against order, finding or sentence of court-martial.

164. Remedy against order, finding or sentence of court-martial.
(1) Any person subject to this Act who considers himself aggrieved by any order passed by any court-martial may present a petition to the officer or authority empowered to confirm any finding or sentence of such court-martial, and the confirming authority may take such steps as may be considered necessary to satisfy itself as to the correctness, legality or propriety of the order passed or as to the regularity of any proceeding to which the order relates.

(2) Any person subject to this Act who considers himself aggrieved by a finding or sentence of any court-martial which has been confirmed, may present a petition to the Central Government, 1[the
Chief of the Army Staff ] or any prescribed officer superior in com-
mand to the one who confirmed such finding or sentence, and the
Central Government, 1[the Chief of the Army Staff ] or other officer, as the case may be, may pass such order thereon as it or he thinks fit.

165.Annulment of proceedings.

165. Annulment of proceedings. The Central Government, 1[the
Chief of the Army Staff] or any prescribed officer may annul the proceedings of any court-martial on the ground that they are illegal or unjust.

CHAPTER XIII

EXECUTION OF SENTENCES

 

 

166. Form of sentence of death. In awarding a sentence of death a court-martial shall, in its discretion, direct that the offender shall suffer death by being hanged by the neck until he be dead, or shall suffer death by being shot to death.

167.Commencement of sentence of transportation or imprisonment.

167. Commencement of sentence of transportation or imprisonment.
Whenever any person is sentenced by a court-martial under this Act to transportation or imprisonment, the term of his sentence shall, whether it has been revised or not, be reckoned to commence on the day on which the original proceedings were signed by the presiding officer or, in the case of a summary court-martial, by the court.

168.Execution of sentence of transportation.

168. Execution of sentence of transportation. Whenever any sentence of transportation is passed under this Act or whenever any sentence of death is commuted to transportation, the commanding officer of the person under sentence or

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for ” the Commander-in-
Chief”.
———————————————————————-

265.such other officer as may be prescribed shall forward a warrant in the prescribed form to the officer in charge of the civil prison in which such person is to be confined and shall arrange for his despatch to such prison with the warrant.

169.Execution of sentence of imprisonment.

169. Execution of sentence of imprisonment. (1) Whenever any sentence of imprisonment is passed under this Act by a court-martial or whenever any sentence of death or transportation is commuted to imprisonment, the confirming officer or in case of a summary court-
martial the officer holding the Court or such other officer as may be prescribed, shall, save as otherwise provided in sub-sections (3) and
(4), direct either that the sentence shall be carried out by confinement in a military prison or that it shall be carried out by confinement in a civil prison.

(2) When a direction has been made under sub-section (1) the commanding officer of the person under sentence or such other officer as may be prescribed shall forward a warrant in the prescribed form to the officer in charge of the prison in which such person is to be confined and shall arrange for his despatch to such prison with the warrant.

(3) In the case of a sentence of imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months and passed under this Act by a court-martial, the appropriate officer under sub-section (1) may direct that the sentence shall be carried out by confinement in military custody instead of in a civil or military prison.

(4) On active service, a sentence of imprisonment may be carried out by confinement in such place as the officer commanding the forces in the field may from time to time appoint.

169A

Period of custody undergone by the officer of person to be set off against the imprisonment.

1[169A. Period of custody undergone by the officer or person to be set off against the imprisonment. When a person or officer subject to this Act is sentenced by a court-martial to a term of imprisonment, not being an imprisonment in default of payment of fine, the period spent by him in civil or military custody during investigation, inquiry or trial of the same case, and before the date of order of such sentence, shall be set off against the term of imprisonment imposed upon him, and the liability of such person or officer to undergo imprisonment on such order of sentence shall be restricted to the remainder, if any, of the term of imprisonment imposed upon him.]

170.

Temporary custody of offender.

170. Temporary custody of offender. Where a sentence of transportation or imprisonment is directed to be undergone in a civil prison the offender may be kept in a military prison or in military custody or in any other fit place, till such time as it is possible send him to a civil prison.

171.Execution of sentence of imprisonment in special cases.

171. Execution of sentence of imprisonment in special cases.
Whenever, in the opinion of an officer commanding an army, army corps, division or independent brigade, any sentence or portion of a sentence of imprisonment cannot for special reasons, conveniently be carried out in a military prison or in military custody in accordance with the provision of section 169 such officer may direct that such sentence or portion of sentence shall be carried out by confinement in any civil, prison or other fit place.

———————————————————————
1 Ins. by Act 37 of 1992, s.17.———————————————————————

266.172.Conveyance of prisoner from place to place.

172. Conveyance of prisoner from place to place. A person under sentence of transportation or imprisonment may during his conveyance from place to place, or when on board ship, aircraft, or otherwise, be subjected to such restraint as is necessary for his safe conduct and removal.

173.Communication of certain orders to prison officers.

173. Communication of certain orders to prison officers. Whenever an order is duly made under this Act setting aside or varying any sentence, order or warrant under which any person is confined in a civil or military prison, a warrant in accordance with such order shall be forwarded by the officer making the order or his staff officer or such other person as may be prescribed to the officer in charge of the prison in which such person is confined.

174.Execution of sentence of fine.

174. Execution of sentence of fine. When a sentence of fine is imposed by a court-martial under section 69 whether the trial was held within India or not, a copy of such sentence, signed and certified by the confirming officer, or where no confirmation is required, by the officer holding the trial may be sent to any magistrate in India, and such magistrate shall thereupon cause the fine to be recovered in accordance with the provision of the 2[Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973] (2 of 1974), or any corresponding law in force in 1 [the State of Jammu and Kashmir] for the levy of fines as if it were a sentence of fine imposed by such magistrate.

175.Establishment and regulation of military prisons.

175. Establishment and regulation of military prisons. The
Central Government may set apart any building or part of a building, or any place under its control, as a military prison for the confinement of persons sentenced to imprisonment under this Act.

176.Informality or error in the order or warrant.

176. Informality or error in the order or warrant. Whenever any person is sentenced to transportation or imprisonment under this Act, and is undergoing the sentence in any place or manner in which he might be confined under a lawful order or warrant in pursuance of this
Act , the confinement of such person shall not be deemed to be illegal only by reason of any informality or error in or as respects the order, warrant or other document, or the authority by which, or in pursuance whereof such person was brought into or is confined in any such place, and any such order, warrant or document may be amended accordingly.

177.Power to make rules in respect of prisons and prisoners.

177. Power to make rules in respect of prisons and prisoners. The
Central Government may make rules providing-

(a) for the government, management and regulation of military prisons;

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by the Adaptation Of Laws (No. 3) Order, 1956, for “a
Part B State”.
2. Subs by Act 37 of 1992, S. 14.———————————————————————-

266A

(b) for the appointment, removal and powers of inspectors, visitors, governors and- officers thereof;

(c) for the labour of prisoners undergoing confinement therein, and for enabling persons to earn, by special industry and good conduct, a remission of a portion of their sentence;

(d) for the safe custody of prisoners and the maintenance of discipline among them and the punishment, by personal correction, restraint or otherwise, of offences committed by prisoners ;

(e) for the application to military prisons of any of the provisions of the Prisons Act, 1894 (9 of 1894), relating to the duties of

267.
officers of prisons and the punishment of persons not being prisoners ;

(f) for the admission into any prison, at proper times and subject to proper restrictions, of persons with whom pri-
soners may desire to communicate, and for the consultation by prisoners under trial with their legal advisers without the presence as far as possible of any third party within hearing distance.

178.Restriction of rulemaking power in regard to corporal punishment.

178. Restriction of rulemaking power in regard to corporal punishment. Rules made under section 177 shall not authorise corporal punishment to be inflicted for any offence, nor render the imprison-
ment more severe than it is under the law for the time being in force relating to civil prisons.

CHAPTER XIV

PARDONS, REMISSIONS AND SUSPENSIONS

 

 

179. Pardon and remission. When any person subject to this Act has been convicted by a court-martial of any offence, the Central
Government or 1[the Chief of the Army Staff ] or, in the case of a sentence, which he could have confirmed or which did not, require confirmation, the officer commanding the army, army corps, division or independent brigade in which such person at the time of conviction was serving, or the prescribed officer may-

(a) either with or without conditions which the person sentenced accepts, pardon the person or remit the whole or any part of the punishment awarded ; or

(b) mitigate the punishment awarded ; or

(c) commute such punishment for any less punishment or punishments mentioned in this Act:

Provided that a sentence of transportation shall not be commuted for a sentence of imprisonment for a term exceeding the term of transportation awarded by the court ; or

(d) either with or without conditions which the person sentenced accepts, release the person on parole.

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for ” the
Commander-in-Chief”.

———————————————————————-

268.180.

Cancellation of conditional pardon, release on parole or remission.

180. Cancellation of conditional pardon, release on parole or remission. (1) If any condition on which a person has been pardoned or released on parole or a punishment has been remitted is, in the opinion of the authority which granted the pardon, release or re-
mission, not fulfilled, such authority may cancel the pardon, release or remission, and thereupon the sentence of the court shall be carried into effect as if such pardon, release or remission had not been granted.

(2) A person whose sentence of transportation or imprisonment is carried into effect under the provisions of sub-section (1) shall undergo only the unexpired portion of his sentence.

181.Reduction of warrant officer or non-commissioned officer.

181. Reduction of warrant officer or non-commissioned officer.
When under the provisions of section 77 a warrant officer or a non-
commissioned officer is deemed to be reduced to the ranks, such reduction shall, for the purpose of section 179, be treated as a punishment awarded by a sentence of a court-martial.

182.Suspension of sentence of transportation or imprisonment.

182. Suspension of sentence of transportation or imprisonment.
(1) Where a person subject to this Act is sentenced by a court-martial to transportation or imprisonment, the Central Government, 1[the Chief of the Army Staff] or any officer empowered to convene a general or a summary general court-martial may suspend the sentence whether or not the offender has already been committed to prison or to military custody.

(2) The authority or officer specified in sub,-section (1) may in the case of an offender so sentenced direct that, until the orders of such authority or officer have been obtained the offender shall not be committed to prison or to military custody.

(3) The powers conferred by sub-sections (1) and (2) may be exercised in the case of any such sentence which has been confirmed, reduced or commuted.

183.Orders pending suspension.

183. Orders pending suspension. (1) Where the sentence referred to in section 182 is imposed by a court-martial other than a summary court-martial, the confirming officer may, when confirming the sentence, direct that the offender be not committed to prison or to military custody until the orders of the authority or officer specified in section 182 have been obtained.

(2) Where a sentence of imprisonment is imposed by a summary court-martial, the officer holding the trial or the officer authorised to approve of the sentence under sub-section (2) of section 161 may make the direction referred to in sub-section (1).

184.Release on suspension.

184. Release on suspension. Where a sentence is suspended under section 182, the offender shall forthwith be released from custody.

185.Computation of period of suspension.

185. Computation of period of suspension. Any period during which the sentence is under suspension shall be reckoned as part of the term of such sentence.

———————————————————————-
1 Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and Sch., for “the Commander-in-
Chief”.
———————————————————————-

269.
186.Order after suspension.

186. Order after suspension. The authority or officer specified in section 182 may, at any time while a sentence is suspended, order-

(a) that the offender be committed to undergo the unexpired portion of the sentence, or

(b) that the sentence be remitted.

187.Reconsideration of case after suspension.

187. Reconsideration of case after suspension. (1) Where a sentence has been suspended, the case may at any time, and shall at intervals of not more than four months, be reconsidered by the authority or officer specified in section 182, or by any general or other officer not below the rank of field officer duly authorised by the authority or officer specified in section 182.(2) Where on such reconsideration by the officer so authorised it appears to him that the conduct of the offender since his conviction has been such as to justify a remission of the sentence, he shall refer the matter to the authority or officer specified in section 182.188.Fresh sentences after suspension.

188. Fresh sentences after suspension. Where an offender, while a sentence on him is suspended under this Act, is sentenced for any other offence, then-

(a) if the further sentence is also suspended under this
Act, the two sentences shall run concurrently ;

(b) if the further sentence is for a period of three months or more and is not suspended under this Act, the offender shall also be committed to prison or military custody for the unexpired portion of the previous sentence, but both sentences shall run concurrently ; and

(c) if the further sentence is for a period of less than three months and is not suspended under this Act, the offender shall be so committed on that sentence only, and the previous sentence shall, subject to any order which may be passed under section 186 or section 187, continue to be suspended.

189.Scope of power of suspension.

189. Scope of power of suspension. The powers conferred by sections 182 and 186 shall be in addition to and not in derogation of the power of mitigation, remission and commutation.

190.

Effect of suspension and remission on dismissal.

190. Effect of suspension and remission on dismissal. (1) Where in addition to any other sentence the punishment of dismissal has been awarded by a court-martial, and such other sentence is suspended under section 182, then, such dismissal shall not take effect until so ordered by the authority or officer specified in section 182.(2) If such other sentence is remitted under section 186, the punishment of dismissal shall also be remitted.

CHAPTER XV

RULES

 

191. Power to make rules. (1) The Central Government may make rules for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of this Act.

(2) Without prejudice to the generality of the power conferred by sub-section (1), the rules made thereunder may provide for-

(a) the removal, retirement, release or discharge from the service of persons subject to this Act ;

(b) the amount and incidence of fines to be imposed under section 89;

2***

(d) the assembly and procedure of courts of inquiry, the recording of summaries of evidence and the administration of oaths or affirmations by such courts ;

(e) the convening and constituting of courts-martial and the appointment of prosecutors at trials by courts-martial;

(f) the adjournment, dissolution and sitting of courts-
martial ;

(g) the procedure to be observed in trials by courts-
martial and the appearance of legal practitioners thereat ;

(h) the confirmation, revision and annulment of, and petitions against, the findings and sentences of courts-
martial;

(i) the carrying into effect of sentences of courts-
martial;

(j) the forms of orders to be made under the provisions of this Act relating to courts-martial, transportation and im-
prisonment ;

(k) the constitution of authorities to decide for what persons, to what amounts and in what manner, provision should be made for dependants under section 99, and the due carrying out of such decisions;

(l) the relative rank of the officers, junior commissioned officers, warrant officers, petty officers and non-commis-
sioned officers of the regular Army, Navy and Air Force when acting together ;

(m) any other matter directed by this Act to be prescribed.

192.Power to make regulations.

192. Power to make regulations. The Central Government may make regulations for all or any of the purposes of this Act other than those specified in section 191.———————————————————————-
1 See Army Rules, 1954, Gazette of India, 1954, Pt. II, sec. 4, p. 291.2 omitted by Act 37 of 1992, s.18.———————————————————————-

271.
193.Publication of rules and regulations in Gazette.

193. Publication of rules and regulations in Gazette. All rules and regulations made under this Act shall be published in the
Official Gazette and on such publication, shall have effect as if enacted in this Act.

1[193A. Rules and regulations to be laid before Parliament. Every rule and every regulation made by the Central Government under this
Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after it is made, before each
House of Parliament while it is in session, for a total period of thirty days which may be comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions, and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session, or the successive sessions aforesaid,both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or regulation should not be made the rule or regulation on shall thereafter have effect only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or regulation.]

194. [Repeals] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1957.(36 of 1957), s.2 and Sch. I.

[THE SCHEDULE.] Rep. by the Repealing and Amending Act, 1957.(36 of 1957) s.2 and Sch.I

———————————————————————-
1 Ins. by Act 20 of 1983, s.2 & Sch. (w.e.f. 15.3.1984)

2 Omitted by Act 37 of 1992, s.19.———————————————————————-