109. Different kinds of courts-martial.—For purposes of this Act there shall be three kinds of
courts-martial, that is to say,—
(a) general courts-martial.
(b) district courts-martial.
(c) summary general courts-martial.
110. Power to convene a general court-martial.—A general court-martial may be convened by the
Central Government or 1
[the Chief of the Air Staff] or by any officer empowered in this behalf by warrant
of1
[the Chief of the Air Staff].
111. 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.
112. Contents of warrants issued under sections 110 and 111.—A warrant issued under
section 110 or section 111 may contain such restrictions, reservations or conditions as the officer issuing
it may think fit.
113. Power to convene a summary general court-martial.—The following authorities shall have
the power to convene a summary general court-martial, namely:—
1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and the Schedule, for “the Commander-in-Chief”, (w.e.f. 7-5-1955)
36
(a) an officer empowered in this behalf by an order of the Central Government or of 1
[the Chief
of the Air 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 Air Force on active service when, in his
opinion, it is not practicable with due regard to discipline and the exigencies of the service, that an
offence should be tried by a general court-martial.
114. 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 whole years and of whom not
less than four are of a rank not below that of flight-lieutenant.
115. 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.
116. Composition of summary general court-martial.—A summary general court-martial shall
consist of not less than three officers.
117. Dissolution of court-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
the exigencies of the service or the necessities of discipline render it impossible or in expedient 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. —A general or summary general
court- martial shall have power to try any person subject to this Act for any offence punishable there in
and to pass any sentence authorised thereby.
119. Powers of district court-martial.—A district court-martial shall have power to try any person
subject to this Act other than an officer or warrant 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.
120. 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 section 82
or section 86, he shall not be liable to be tried again for the same offence by a court-martial or dealt with
under the said sections.
121. 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 from the date of such offence.
1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and the Schedule, for “the Commander-in-Chief”, (w.e.f. 7-5-1955)
37
(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 Air Force.
122. 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 air force custody, and tried and punished for such offence as if he continued to
be so subject.
(2) Except as provided by sub-sections (3) and (4), any such person shall not be tried for an offence,
unless his trial commences within six months after he had ceased to be subject to this Act.
(3) The provisions of sub-section (2) shall not 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.
(4) Nothing contained in sub-section (2) shall affect the jurisdiction of a civil court to try any offence
triable by such court as well as by a court-martial.
(5) 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 Air Force, 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.
(6) When a person subject to this Act it sentenced by a court-martial to death, this Act shall apply to
him till the sentence is carried out.
123. 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.
124. Choice between criminal court and court-martial.—When a criminal court and a courtmartial have each jurisdiction in respect of an offence, it shall be in the discretion of 1
[the Chief of the Air
Staff], the officer commanding any group, wing or station in which the accused prisoner 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 Air force custody.
125. 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 124 at his option, either to
1. Subs. by Act 19 of 1955, s. 2 and the Schedule, for “the Commander-in-Chief” (w.e.f. 7-5-1955).
38
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.
126. Successive trials by a criminal court and a court-martial.—(1) A person convicted or
acquitted by a court-martial may, with the previous sanction of the Central Government, be tried again by
a criminal court for the same offence, or on the same facts.
(2) If a person sentenced by a court-martial under this Act or punished under section 82 or section 86
is afterwards tried and convicted by a criminal court for the same offence, or on the same facts, that court
shall, in awarding punishment have regard to the punishment he may already have undergone for the said
offence.