Army Act, 1950 · Chapter VI: Offences
Section 59: Offences relating to courts-martial
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 a court martial, wilfully or without reasonable excuse, makes default in attending; or
(b) refuses to take an oath or make an affirmation legally required by a court-martial to be taken or made; or
(c) refuses to produce or deliver any document in his power or control legally required by a courtmartial 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 court-martial by using insulting or threatening language, or by causing any interruption or disturbance in the proceedings of such court;
shall, on conviction by court-martial, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 59
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.