(1) [A Commandant or Deputy Commandant, or subject to the control of the Commandant or the Deputy Commandant, as the case may be], 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 of and belowthe rank of Head Constable, who 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 [or the Deputy Commandant], Assistant Commandant or such other officer, as the case may be, is not of sufficient serious nature 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 15 days when the order is passed by a Commandant [or Deputy Commandant], or to seven days when it is passed by any other officer, such confinement shall involve the forfeiture of pay and allowance for the period of confinement. If an order to this effect is passed by the officer awarding the punishment, provided no officer below the rank of Commandant [or the Deputy 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 [or the Deputy Commandant] to twenty-eight 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 with any or more of the others :
Provided always that confinement to the lines shall not exceed fifteen consecutive days.
(3) When a Commandant [or a Deputy 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.