Minor punishments.

(1) A Commandant, or subject to the control of the Commandant an Assistant Commandant or such other officers as may be prescribed, may award for good and sufficient reasons to any member of the subordinate ranks below the rank of Head Constable, who is subject to his authority, any of the following punishments for the commission of any offence against discipline, which is not otherwise provided for in this Act or which in the opinion of the Commandant, Assistant Commandant or such other officer, as the case may be, is not of such serious nature as to call for prosecution before a criminal court, that is to say:- (a) confinement in the quarter guard, or such other place as may be considered suitable, for a term which may extend to fifteen days when the order is passed by a Commandant, or to seven days when it is passed by any other officer. Such confinement shall involve the forfeiture of pay and allowances for the period of confinement if an order to this effect is passed by the officer awarding the punishment: Provided that no officer below the rank of Commandant shall pass orders towards forfeiture of pay and allowances; (b) punishment drill, extra guard, fatigue or any other duty for a term which may extend, when the order is passed by the Commandant, to fifteen days and when the order is passed by any other officer to seven days. (2) Any of the punishments specified in sub-section (1) may be awarded separately or jointly with anyone or more of the other punishments: Provided always that confinement to the quarter guard shall not exceed fifteen consecutive days. (3) When a Commandant or an Assistant Commandant or other officer passes an order under sub-section (1), he shall enter in a book to be kept for the purpose, a brief description of the defaults together with the names of witnesses, explanation of the defaulter and the order of punishment and shall sign and date each such order.