The Border Security Force Act, 1968
Administered Ministry: Ministry of Home Affairs / Department of Internal Security
Section
Section 21 Disobedience to superior officer. 1 docs
(1) Any person subject to this Act who disobeys in such manner as to show a wilful defiance of authority any lawful command given personally by his superior officer in the execution of his office whether the same is given orally, or in writing or by signal or otherwise, shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as in this Act mentioned.
(2) Any person subject to this Act who disobeys any lawful command given by his superior officer shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court,—
(a) if he commits 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
(b) if he commits such offence when not on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(2) Any person subject to this Act who disobeys any lawful command given by his superior officer shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court,—
(a) if he commits 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
(b) if he commits such offence when not on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 22 Insubordination and obstruction.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) being concerned in any quarrel, affray or disorder, refuses to obey any officer, though of inferior rank, who orders him into arrest, or uses criminal force to or assaults any such officer; or
(b) uses criminal force to, or assaults any person, whether subject to this Act or not, in whose custody he is lawfully placed, and whether he is or is not his superior officer; or
(c) resists an escort whose duty it is to apprehend him or to have him in charge; or
(d) breaks out of barracks, camp or quarters; or
(e) neglects to obey any general, local or other order; or
(f) impedes the Force Police referred to in section 63 or any person lawfully acting on his behalf, or when called upon, refuses to assist in the execution of his duty a Force Police or any person lawfully acting on his behalf,
shall on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend, in the case of the offences specified in clauses (d) and (e), to two years, and in the case of the offences specified in the other clauses, to ten years, or in either case such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) being concerned in any quarrel, affray or disorder, refuses to obey any officer, though of inferior rank, who orders him into arrest, or uses criminal force to or assaults any such officer; or
(b) uses criminal force to, or assaults any person, whether subject to this Act or not, in whose custody he is lawfully placed, and whether he is or is not his superior officer; or
(c) resists an escort whose duty it is to apprehend him or to have him in charge; or
(d) breaks out of barracks, camp or quarters; or
(e) neglects to obey any general, local or other order; or
(f) impedes the Force Police referred to in section 63 or any person lawfully acting on his behalf, or when called upon, refuses to assist in the execution of his duty a Force Police or any person lawfully acting on his behalf,
shall on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend, in the case of the offences specified in clauses (d) and (e), to two years, and in the case of the offences specified in the other clauses, to ten years, or in either case such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 23 False answers on enrolment.
Any person having become subject to this Act who is discovered to have made at the time of enrolment a wilfully false answer to any question set forth in the prescribed form of enrolment which has been put to him by the enrolling officer before whom he appears for the purpose of being enrolled, shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 24 Certain forms of disgraceful conduct. 1 docs
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) is guilty of any disgraceful conduct of a cruel, indecent or unnatural kind; or
(b) malingers, or feigns, or produces disease or infirmity in himself or intentionally delays his cure or aggravates his disease or infirmity; or
(c) with intent to render himself or any other person unfit for service, voluntarily causes hurt to himself or that person,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) is guilty of any disgraceful conduct of a cruel, indecent or unnatural kind; or
(b) malingers, or feigns, or produces disease or infirmity in himself or intentionally delays his cure or aggravates his disease or infirmity; or
(c) with intent to render himself or any other person unfit for service, voluntarily causes hurt to himself or that person,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 25 Ill-treating a subordinate.
Any officer, subordinate officer or under-officer, who uses criminal force to or otherwise ill-treats any person subject to this Act, being his subordinate in rank or position, shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 26 Intoxication.
Any person subject to this Act who is found in a state of intoxication, whether on duty or not, shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 27 Permitting escape of person in custody.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) when in command of a guard, picket, patrol or post, releases without proper authority, whether wilfully or without reasonable excuse, any person committed to his charge, or refuses to receive any prisoner or person so committed; or
(b) wilfully or without reasonable excuse allows to escape any person who is committed to his charge,or whom it is his duty to keep or guard,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable, if he has acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned: and if he has not acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) when in command of a guard, picket, patrol or post, releases without proper authority, whether wilfully or without reasonable excuse, any person committed to his charge, or refuses to receive any prisoner or person so committed; or
(b) wilfully or without reasonable excuse allows to escape any person who is committed to his charge,or whom it is his duty to keep or guard,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable, if he has acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned: and if he has not acted wilfully, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 28 Irregularity in connection with arrest or confinement.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) unnecessarily detains a person in arrest or confinement without bringing him to trial, or fails to bring his case before the proper authority for investigation; or
(b) having committed a person to Force custody fails without reasonable cause to deliver at the time of such committal, or as soon as practicable, and in any case within forty-eight hours thereafter, to the officer or other person into whose custody the person arrested is committed, an account in writing signed by himself of the offence with which the person so committed is charged,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) unnecessarily detains a person in arrest or confinement without bringing him to trial, or fails to bring his case before the proper authority for investigation; or
(b) having committed a person to Force custody fails without reasonable cause to deliver at the time of such committal, or as soon as practicable, and in any case within forty-eight hours thereafter, to the officer or other person into whose custody the person arrested is committed, an account in writing signed by himself of the offence with which the person so committed is charged,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 29 Escape from custody. 1 docs
Any person subject to this Act who, being in lawful custody, escapes or attempts to escape, shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 30 Offences in respect of property.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) commits theft of any property belonging to the Government, or to any Force mess, band or institution, or to any person subject to this Act; or
(b) dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use any such property; or
(c) commits criminal breach of trust in respect of any such property; or
(d) dishonestly receives or retains any such property in respect of which any of the offences under clauses (a), (b) and (c) has been committed, knowing or having reason to believe the commission of such offence; or
(e) wilfully destroys or injures any property of the Government entrusted to him; or
(f) does any other thing with intent to defraud, or to cause wrongful gain to one person or wrongful loss to another person,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) commits theft of any property belonging to the Government, or to any Force mess, band or institution, or to any person subject to this Act; or
(b) dishonestly misappropriates or converts to his own use any such property; or
(c) commits criminal breach of trust in respect of any such property; or
(d) dishonestly receives or retains any such property in respect of which any of the offences under clauses (a), (b) and (c) has been committed, knowing or having reason to believe the commission of such offence; or
(e) wilfully destroys or injures any property of the Government entrusted to him; or
(f) does any other thing with intent to defraud, or to cause wrongful gain to one person or wrongful loss to another person,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 31 Extortion and corruption.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) commits extortion; or
(b) without proper authority exacts from any person money, provisions or service,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) commits extortion; or
(b) without proper authority exacts from any person money, provisions or service,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 32 Making away with equipment. 1 docs
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) makes away with, or is concerned in making away with, any arms, ammunition, equipment, instruments, tools, clothing or any other thing being the property of the Government issued to him for his use or entrusted to him; or
(b) loses by neglect anything mentioned in clause (a); or
(c) sells, pawns, destroys or defaces any medal or decoration granted to him,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend, in the case of the offences specified in clause (a), to ten years, and in the case of the offences specified in the other clauses, to five years, or in either case such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned
(a) makes away with, or is concerned in making away with, any arms, ammunition, equipment, instruments, tools, clothing or any other thing being the property of the Government issued to him for his use or entrusted to him; or
(b) loses by neglect anything mentioned in clause (a); or
(c) sells, pawns, destroys or defaces any medal or decoration granted to him,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend, in the case of the offences specified in clause (a), to ten years, and in the case of the offences specified in the other clauses, to five years, or in either case such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned
Section 33 Injury to property.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) destroys or injures any property mentioned in clause (a) of section 32, or any property belonging to any Force mess, band or institution, or to any person subject to this Act; or
(b) commits any act which causes damage to, or destruction of, any property of the Government by fire; or
(c) kills, injures, makes away with, ill-treats or loses any, animal entrusted to him,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable, if he has acted wilfully to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and if he has acted without reasonable excuse, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) destroys or injures any property mentioned in clause (a) of section 32, or any property belonging to any Force mess, band or institution, or to any person subject to this Act; or
(b) commits any act which causes damage to, or destruction of, any property of the Government by fire; or
(c) kills, injures, makes away with, ill-treats or loses any, animal entrusted to him,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable, if he has acted wilfully to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and if he has acted without reasonable excuse, to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 34 False accusations.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) makes a false accusation against any person subject to this Act, knowing or having reason to believe such accusation to be false; or
(b) in making a complaint against any person subject to this Act makes any statement affecting the character of such person, knowing or having reason to believe such statement to be false, or knowingly and wilfully suppresses any material facts,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) makes a false accusation against any person subject to this Act, knowing or having reason to believe such accusation to be false; or
(b) in making a complaint against any person subject to this Act makes any statement affecting the character of such person, knowing or having reason to believe such statement to be false, or knowingly and wilfully suppresses any material facts,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 35 Falsifying official documents and false declarations.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) in any report, return, list, certificate, book or other document made or signed by him, or of the contents of which it is his duty to ascertain the accuracy, knowingly makes, or is privy to the making of, any false or fraudulent statement; or
(b) in any document of the description mentioned in clause (a) knowingly makes, or is privy to the making of, any omission, with intent to defraud; or
(c) knowingly and with intent to injure any person, or knowingly and with intent to defraud, suppresses, defaces, alters or makes away with any document which it is his duty to preserve or produce; or
(d) where it is his official duty to make a declaration respecting any matter, knowingly makes a false declaration; or
(e) obtains for himself, or for any other person, any pension, allowance or other advantage or privilege by a statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, or by making or using a false entry in any book or record, or by making any document containing a false statement, or by omitting to make a true entry or document containing a true statement,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) in any report, return, list, certificate, book or other document made or signed by him, or of the contents of which it is his duty to ascertain the accuracy, knowingly makes, or is privy to the making of, any false or fraudulent statement; or
(b) in any document of the description mentioned in clause (a) knowingly makes, or is privy to the making of, any omission, with intent to defraud; or
(c) knowingly and with intent to injure any person, or knowingly and with intent to defraud, suppresses, defaces, alters or makes away with any document which it is his duty to preserve or produce; or
(d) where it is his official duty to make a declaration respecting any matter, knowingly makes a false declaration; or
(e) obtains for himself, or for any other person, any pension, allowance or other advantage or privilege by a statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, or by making or using a false entry in any book or record, or by making any document containing a false statement, or by omitting to make a true entry or document containing a true statement,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 36 Signing in blank and failure to report.
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) when signing any document relating to pay, arms, ammunition, equipment, clothing, supplies or stores, or any property of the Government fraudulently leaves in blank any material part for which his signature is a voucher; or
(b) refuses or by culpable neglect omits to make or send a report or return which it is his duty to make or send,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) when signing any document relating to pay, arms, ammunition, equipment, clothing, supplies or stores, or any property of the Government fraudulently leaves in blank any material part for which his signature is a voucher; or
(b) refuses or by culpable neglect omits to make or send a report or return which it is his duty to make or send,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 37 Offences relating to Security Force Court. 1 docs
Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,—
(a) being duly summoned or ordered to attend as a witness before a Security Force Court, wilfully or without reasonable excuse, makes default in attending; or
(b) refuses to take an oath or make an affirmation legally required by a Security Force Court to be taken or made; or
(c) refuses to produce or deliver any document in his power or control legally required by a Security Force Court to be produced or delivered by him; or
(d) refuses, when a witness, to answer any question which he is by law bound to answer; or
(e) is guilty of contempt of the Security Force Court by using insulting or threatening language, or by causing any interruption or disturbance in the proceedings of such court,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
(a) being duly summoned or ordered to attend as a witness before a Security Force Court, wilfully or without reasonable excuse, makes default in attending; or
(b) refuses to take an oath or make an affirmation legally required by a Security Force Court to be taken or made; or
(c) refuses to produce or deliver any document in his power or control legally required by a Security Force Court to be produced or delivered by him; or
(d) refuses, when a witness, to answer any question which he is by law bound to answer; or
(e) is guilty of contempt of the Security Force Court by using insulting or threatening language, or by causing any interruption or disturbance in the proceedings of such court,
shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 38 False evidence. 1 docs
Any person subject to this Act who, having been duly sworn or affirmed before any Security Force Court or other court competent under this Act to administer an oath or affirmation, makes any statement which is false, and which he either knows or believes to be false or does not believe to be true, shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 39 Unlawful detention of pay.
Any officer, subordinate officer or an under-officer who, having received the pay of a person subject to this Act unlawfully detains or refuses to pay the same when due, shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
Section 40 Violation of good order and discipline.
Any person subject to this Act who is guilty of any act or omission which, though not specified in this Act, is prejudicial to good order and discipline of the Force shall, on conviction by a Security Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.