Section 37: Penalty for disobedience in action

Every person subject to naval law who, being in the presence or vicinity of the enemy or having been ordered to be prepared for action by or against the enemy—

(a) desert his post; or

(b) sleeps upon his watch,

shall be punished with death or such other punishment as is hereinafter 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 37

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