21. Offences in relation to the enemy and punishable with death.—Any person subject to this Act
who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) shamefully abandons or delivers up any post, place or guard, committed to his charge or
which it is his duty to defend; or
(b) intentionally uses any means to compel or induce any person subject to this Act or to army,
naval, air force law or any member of other armed forces to abstain from acting against the enemy or
to discourage such person from acting against the enemy; or
(c) in the presence of enemy, shamefully casts away his arms, ammunition, tools or equipment or
misbehaves in such manner as to show cowardice; or
(d) treacherously holds correspondence with, or communicates intelligence to, the enemy or any
person in arms against the Union; or
(e) directly or indirectly assists the enemy with money, arms, ammunition, stores or supplies or in
any other manner whatsoever; or
(f) in time of active operation against the enemy intentionally occasions a false alarm in action,
camp, quarters or spreads or causes to be spread reports calculated to create alarm or despondency; or
(g) in time of action leaves his Commandant or other superior officer or his post, guard, picket,
patrol or party wihout being regularly relieved or without leave; or
(h) having been captured by the enemy or made a prisoner of war, voluntarily serves with or aids
the enemy; or
(i) knowingly harbours or protects an enemy not being a prisoner; or
(j) being a sentry in time of active operation against the enemy or alarm, sleeps upon his post or is
intoxicated; or
(k) knowingly does any act calculated to imperil the success of the Force or the army, naval, air
forces of India or any other armed forces of the Central Government co-operating therewith or any
part of such forces,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer death or such less punishment as is in
this Act mentioned.
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22. Offences in relation to the enemy and not punishable with death.—Any person subject to this
Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) is taken prisoner or captured by the enemy, by want of due precaution or through
disobedience of orders, or wilful neglect of duty, or having been taken prisoner or so captured fails to
rejoin his service when able to do so; or
(b) without due authority holds correspondence with, or communicates intelligence to, the enemy
or any person in league with the enemy or having come by the knowledge of any such
correspondence or communication, wilfully omits to discover it immediately to his Commandant or
other superior officer,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
23. 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,—
(a) forces a safeguard or forces or uses criminal force to a sentry; or
(b) breaks into any house or other place in search of plunder; or
(c) being a sentry, sleeps upon his post or is intoxicated; or
(d) without orders from his superior officer, leaves his guard, picket, patrol or posts; or
(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
(f) makes known the parole, watchword or countersign to any person not entitled to receive it ;or
(g) knowingly gives a parole, watchword or countersign different from what he received,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court,—
(A) 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
(B) 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.
24. Mutiny.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to
say,—
(a) begins, incites, causes or conspires with any other person to cause any mutiny in the Force or
in the army, naval or air forces of India or any forces co-operating therewith; or
(b) joins in any such mutiny; or
(c) being present at any such mutiny, does not use his utmost endeavours to suppress the same; or
(d) knowing or having reason to believe in the existence of any such mutiny, or of any intention
to mutiny or of any such conspiracy, does not, without delay, give information thereof to his
Commandant or other superior officer; or
(e) endeavours to seduce any person in the Force or in the army, naval or air forces of India or
any forces cooperating therewith from his duty or allegiance to the Union,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer death or such less punishment as is in
this Act mentioned.
25. Desertion and aiding desertion.—(1) Any person subject to this Act who deserts or attempts to
desert the service shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court,—
(a) if he commits the offence when on active duty or when under orders for active duty, be liable
to suffer death or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and
13
(b) if he commits the offence under any other circumstances, be liable to suffer imprisonment for
a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(2) Any person subject to this Act who knowingly harbours any such deserter shall, on conviction by
an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or
such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(3) Any person subject to this Act who, being cognizant of any desertion or attempt at desertion of a
person subject to this Act, does not forthwith give notice to his own or some other superior officer, or take
any steps in his power to cause such person to be apprehended, shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles
Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or such less punishment
as is in this Act mentioned.
26. Absence without leave.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following
offences, that is to say,—
(a) absents himself without leave; or
(b) without sufficient cause, overstays leave granted to him; or
(c) being on leave of absence and having received information from the appropriate authority that
any battalion or part thereof or any other unit of the Force, to which he belongs, has been ordered on
active duty, fails, without sufficient cause, to rejoin without delay; or
(d) without sufficient cause, fails to appear at the time fixed at the parade or place appointed for
exercise or duty; or
(e) when on parade, or on the line of march, without sufficient cause or without leave from his
superior officer, quits the parade or line of march ; or
(f) when in camp or elsewhere, is found beyond any limits fixed, or in any place prohibited, by
any general, local or other order, without a pass or written leave from his superior officer; or
(g) without leave from his superior officer or without due cause, absents himself from any school
when duly ordered to attend there, shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer
imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act
mentioned.
27. Striking or threatening superior officers.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of
the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) uses criminal force to or assaults his superior officer; or
(b) uses threatening language to such officer; or
(c) uses insubordinate language to such officer,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court,—
(A) if such officer is at the time in the execution of his office or, if the offence is committed 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
(B) in other cases, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or
such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned:
Provided that in the case of an offence specified in clause (c), the imprisonment shall not exceed five
years.
28. Disobedience to superior officer.—(1) Any person subject to this Act who disobeys, in such
manner as to show a wilful defiance of authority, any lawful command given personally by his superior
officer in the execution of his office whether the same is given orally, or in writing or by signal or
otherwise, shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term
which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
14
(2) Any person subject to this Act who disobeys any lawful command given by his superior officer
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court,—
(a) if he commits 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
(b) if he commits such offence when not on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a
term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
29. Insubordination and obstruction.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the
following offences, that is to say,—
(a) being concerned in any quarrel, affray or disorder, refuses to obey any officer, though of
inferior rank, who orders him into arrest, or uses criminal force to or assaults any such officer; or
(b) uses criminal force to, or assaults any person, whether subject to this Act or not, in whose
custody he is lawfully placed, and whether he is or is not his superior officer; or
(c) resists an escort whose duty it is to apprehend him or to have him in charge; or
(d) breaks out of barracks, camp or quarters; or
(e) neglects to obey any general, local or other order ;or
(f) impedes the Force Police referred to in section 85 or any person lawfully acting on its behalf,
or when called upon, refuses to assist in the execution of his duty a Force Police or any person
lawfully acting on his behalf,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend, in the case of the offences specified in clauses (d) and (e), to two years, and in the case of the
offences specified in the other clauses, to ten years, or in either case such less punishment as is in this Act
mentioned.
30. Fraudulent enrolment.—Any person subject to this Act who knowingly attempts to get enrolled
or enrolls any other person who does not fulfil the conditions enabling him to be enrolled, shall, on
conviction by the Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to
five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
31. False answers on enrolment.—Any person having become subject to this Act who is discovered
to have made at the time of enrolment a wilfully false answer to any question set-forth in the prescribed
form of enrolment which has been put to him by the enrolling officer before whom he appears for the
purpose of being enrolled, shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment
for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
32. Unbecoming conduct.—Any officer, subordinate officer or an under-officer who behaves in a
manner unbecoming his position and the character expected of him shall, on conviction by an Assam
Rifles Court, be liable to be dismissed or to suffer such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
33. Certain forms of disgraceful conduct.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the
following offences, that is to say,—
(a) is guilty of any disgraceful conduct of a cruel, indecent or unnatural kind; or
(b) malingers, or feigns or produces disease or infirmity in himself or intentionally delays his cure
or aggravates his disease or infirmity; or
(c) with intent to render himself or any other person unfit for service, voluntarily causes hurt to
himself or that person,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
34. Ill-treating a subordinate.—Any officer, subordinate officer or an under-officer who uses
criminal force to or otherwise ill-treats any person subject to this Act, being his subordinate in rank or
15
position, shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which
may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
35. Intoxication.—Any person subject to this Act who is found in a state of intoxication whether on
duty or not, shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term
which may extend to six months or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
36. Permitting escape of person in custody.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of
the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) when in command of guard, picket, patrol or post, releases without proper authority, whether
wilfully or without reasonable excuse, any person committed to his charge, or refuses to receive any
prisoner or person so committed; or
(b) wilfully or without reasonable excuse allows to escape any person who is committed to his
charge, or whom it is his duty to keep or guard,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable, if he has acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment
for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and if he
has not acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or such less
punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
37. Irregularity in connection with arrest or confinement.—Any person subject to this Act who
commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) unnecessarily detains a person in arrest or confinement without bringing him to trial, or fails
to bring his case before the proper authority for investigation; or
(b) having committed a person to Force custody fails without reasonable cause to deliver at the
time of such committal, or as soon as practicable, and in any case within forty-eight hours thereafter,
to the officer or other person into whose custody the person arrested is committed, an account in
writing signed by himself of the offence with which the person so committed is charged,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to one year or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
38. Escape from custody.—Any person subject to this Act who, being in lawful custody, escapes or
attempts to escape, shall on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a
term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
39. Offences in respect of property.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the
following offences, that is to say,—
(a) commits theft of any property belonging to the Government, or to any Force mess, band, or
institution, or to any person subject to this Act; or
(b) dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use any such property; or
(c) commits criminal breach of trust in respect of any such property; or
(d) dishonestly receives or retains any such property in respect of which any of the offences under
clauses (a), (b) and (c) has been committed, knowing or having reason to believe the commission of
such offence; or
(e) wilfully destroys or injures any property of the Government entrusted to him; or
(f) does any other thing with intent to defraud, or to cause wrongful gain to one person or
wrongful loss to another person,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
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40. Extortion and corruption.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following
offences, that is to say,—
(a) commits extortion; or
(b) without proper authority extracts from any person money, provisions or service,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
41. Making away with equipment.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the
following offences, that is to say,—
(a) makes away with, or is concerned in making away with any arms, ammunition, equipment,
instruments, tools, clothing or any other thing being the property of the Government issued to him for
his use or entrusted to him; or
(b) loses by neglect anything mentioned in clause (a); or
(c) sells, pawns, destroys or defaces any medal or decoration granted to him,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend, in the case of the offences specified in clause (a), to ten years, and in the case of the offences
specified in the other clauses, to five years, or in either case such less punishment as is in this Act
mentioned.
42. Injury to property.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences,
that is to say,—
(a) destroys or injures any property mentioned in clause (a) of section 41 or any property
belonging to any Force mess, band or institution, or to any person subject to this Act; or
(b) commits any act which causes damage to, or destruction of, any property of the Government
by fire; or
(c) kills, injures, makes away with, ill-treats or loses any animal entrusted to him,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable, if he has acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment
for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and if he
has acted without reasonable excuse, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or
such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
43. False accusations.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences,
that is to say,—
(a) makes a false accusation against any person subject to this Act, knowing or having reason to
believe such accusation to be false; or
(b) in making complaint against any person subject to this Act, makes any statement affecting the
character of such person, knowing or having reason to believe such statement to be false, or
knowingly and wilfully suppresses any material facts,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
44. Falsifying official document and false declarations.—Any person subject to this Act who
commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) in any report, return, list, certificate, book or other document made or signed by him, or of the
contents of which it is his duty to ascertain the accuracy, knowingly makes, or is privy to the making
of, any false or fraudulent statement; or
(b) in any document of the description mentioned in clause (a), knowingly makes, or is privy to
the making of, any omission, with intent to defraud; or
17
(c) knowingly and with intent to injure any person or knowingly and with intent to defraud,
suppresses, defaces, alters or makes away with any document which it is his duty to preserve or
produce; or
(d) where it is his official duty to make a declaration respecting any matter, knowingly makes a
false declaration; or
(e) obtains for himself, or for any other person, any pension, allowance or other advantage or
privilege by a statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not
believe to be true, or by making or using false entry in any book or record, or by making any
document containing a false statement, or by omitting to make a true entry or document containing a
true statement,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
45. Signing in blank and failure to report.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the
following offences, that is to say,—
(a) when signing any document relating to pay, arms, ammunition, equipment, clothing, supplies
or stores, or any property of the Government fraudulently leaves in blank any material part for which
his signature is a voucher; or
(b) refuses or by culpable neglect omits to make or send a report or return which it is his duty to
make or send,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
46. Offences relating to Assam Rifles Court.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of
the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) being duly summoned or ordered to attend as a witness before an Assam Rifles Court, wilfully
or without reasonable excuse, makes default in attending; or
(b) refuses to take an oath or make an affirmation legally required by an Assam Rifles Court to be
taken or made; or
(c) refuses to produce or deliver any document in his power or control legally required by an
Assam Rifles Court to be produced or delivered by him; or
(d) refuses, when a witness, to answer any question which he is by law bound to answer; or
(e) is guilty of contempt of the Assam Rifles Court by using insulting or threatening language, or
by causing any interruption or disturbance in the proceedings of such Court,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
47. False evidence.—Any person subject to this Act who, having been duly sworn or affirmed before
any Assam Rifles Court or other court competent under this Act to administer an oath or affirmation,
makes any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe
to be true, shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term
which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
48. Unlawful detention of pay.—Any officer, subordinate officer or an under-officer who, having
received the pay of a person subject to this Act, unlawfully detains or refuses to pay the same when due,
shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
49. Violation of good order and discipline.—Any person subject to this Act who is guilty of any act
or omission which, though not specified in this Act, is prejudicial to good order and discipline of the
Force shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which
may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
18
50. Miscellaneous offences.—Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following
offences, that is to say,—
(a) being in command at any post or on the march, and receiving a complaint that anyone under
his command has beaten or otherwise mal-treated or oppressed any person, or has disturbed any fair
or market, or committed any riot or trespass, fails to have due reparation made to the injured person
or to report the case to the proper authority; or
(b) by defiling any place of worship, or otherwise, intentionally insults the religion, or wounds the
religious feelings of any person; or
(c) attempts to commit suicide, and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of such
offence; or
(d) being below the rank of subordinate officer, when off duty, appears without proper authority,
in or about camp, or when going, to, or returning from, any town or bazaar, carrying a rifle, sword or
other offensive weapons; or
(e) directly or indirectly accepts or obtains, or agrees to accept or attempts to obtain, for himself
or for any other person, any gratification as a motive or reward for procuring the enrolment of any
person or leave of absence, promotion or any other advantage or indulgence for any person in the
service; or
(f) commits any offence against the property or person of any inhabitant of, or resident in, the
country in which he is serving,
shall, on conviction by an Assam, Rifles Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may
extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
51. Attempt.—Any person subject to this Act who attempts to commit any of the offences specified
in sections 21 to 50 (both inclusive) and in such attempt does any act towards the commission of the
offence shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, where no express provision is made by this Act
for the punishment of such attempt, be liable,—
(a) if the offence attempted to be committed is punishable with death, to suffer imprisonment for
a term which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and
(b) if the offence attempted to be committed is punishable with imprisonment to suffer
imprisonment for a term which may extend to one-half of the longest term provided for that offence
or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
52. Abetment of offences that have been committed.—Any person subject to this Act who abets the
commission of any of the offences specified in sections 21 to 50 (both inclusive) shall, on conviction by
an Assam Rifles Court, if the Act abetted is committed in consequence of the abetment and no express
provision is made by this Act for the punishment of such abetment, be liable to suffer the punishment
provided for that offence or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
53. Abetment of offences punishable with death and not committed.—Any person subject to this
Act who abets the commission of any of the offences punishable with death under sections 21, 24 and
clause (a) of sub-section (1) of section 25 shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, if that offence,
be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Act for the
punishment of such abetment, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen
years of such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
54. Abetment of offences punishable with imprisonment and not committed.—Any person
subject to this Act who abets the commission of any of the offences specified in sections 21 to 50 (both
inclusive) and punishable with imprisonment shall, on conviction by an Assam Rifles Court, if that
offence, be not committed in consequence of the abetment, and no express provision is made by this Act
for the punishment of such abetment, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to
one-half of the longest term provided for that offence or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
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55. Civil offences.—Subject to the provisions of section 56, any person subject to this Act who at any
place in, or beyond, India commits any civil offence shall be deemed to be guilty of an offence against
this Act and, if charged therewith under this section, shall be liable to be tried by an Assam Rifles Court
and, on conviction, be punishable as follows, that is to say,—
(a) if the offence is one which would be punishable under any law in force in India with death, he
shall be liable to suffer any punishment assigned for the offence, by the aforesaid law and such less
punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and
(b) in any other case, he shall be liable to suffer any punishment assigned for the offence by the
law in force in India, or imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years, or such less
punishment as in this Act mentioned.
56. Civil offences not triable by an Assam Rifles Court.—A person subject to this Act who
commits an offence of murder or of culpable homicide not amounting to murder against, or of rape in
relation to, a person not subject to this Act shall not be deemed to be guilty of an offence against this Act
and shall not be tried by an Assam Rifles Court, unless he commits any of the said offences,—
(a) while on active duty; or
(b) at any place outside India; or
(c) at any place specified by the Central Government, by notification in this behalf.