Enhanced punishments for derelictions of duty by members of police force in certain circumstances.

It shall be an offence punishable under this Act for any member of a police force whose duty for the time being is to protect from acts of violence any passengers or goods being conveyed upon any railway (as defined in the Indian Railways Act, 1890), to fail in the performance of that duty and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law or order for the time being regulating discipline in the police force of which he is a member but without prejudice to any other punishment to which he may be liable thereunder, such member of a police force shall be liable, on conviction for such offence by a competent criminal court, to be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or, if on the occasion of his offence any loss of human life occurs, with death or transportation for life or rigorous imprisonment for a period which may extend to ten years.