Section 18 · Offences punishable more severely on active duty than at other times

Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—

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(a) forces a safeguard, or forces or uses criminal force to a sentry; or

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(b) breaks into any house or other place in search of plunder; or

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(c) being a sentry sleeps upon his post, or is intoxicated; or

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(d) without orders from his superior officer leaves his guard, picket, patrol or post; or

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(e) intentionally or through neglect occasions a false alarm in camp or quarters, or spreads or causes to be spread reports calculated to create unnecessary alarm or despondency; or

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(f) makes known the parole, watchward or countersign to any person not entitled to receive it; or knowingly gives a parole, watchward or a countersign different from what he received,

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shall, on conviction by a Force Court,—

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(i) if he commits any such offence when on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and

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(ii) if he commits any such offence when not on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.

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