Punishment of officers, junior commissioned officers and warrant officers by area commanders and others.

An officer having power not less than an area commander or an equivalent commander or an officer empowered to convene a general court-martial or such other officer as is, with the consent of the Central Government, specified by 1[the Chief of the Army Staff] may, in the prescribed manner, proceed against an officer below the rank of lieutenant-colonel, a junior commissioned officer or a warrant officer, who is charged with an offence under this Act, and award one or more of the following punishments, that is to say,--

1. (a) forfeiture of seniority, or in the case of any of them whose promotion depends upon length of service, forfeiture of service for the purpose of promotion for a period not exceeding twelve months, but subject to the right of the accused previous to the award to elect to be tried by a court-martial;
2. (b) severe reprimand or reprimand;
3. (c) stoppage of pay and allowances until any proved loss or damage occasioned by the offence of which he is convicted is made good.