Section 16: Offences punishable more severly 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 post; 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 knowingly gives a parole, watchword or countersign different from what he received,

shall, on conviction by a Security Force 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.