Section 16: 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 drunk; or

(d) without orders from his superior officer leaves his guard, picket, patrol or post, shall, on conviction by a Security Guard Court,—

(i) 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 (ii) 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 of such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.