(1) The Forms set forth in the appendices to these rules, with such variations as the circumstances of each case may require, may be used for the respective purposes therein mentioned, and if used, shall be sufficient, but a deviation from such forms shall not, by reason only of such deviation, render invalid any charge, order, proceedings or any other document relevant to these rules.
(2) Any omission of any such form shall not be reason only of such omission render as acts of things invalid.
4. For rule 14 of the principal rules, the following rule shall be substituted, namely :- “14. Delay Reports – (1) Where a person subject to the Act is being detained in Coast Guard custody for a period beyond forty-eight hours without issuing orders for convening a Coast Guard Court for his trial or awarding him punishment under section 57 or section 57A, the report as required under section 60 for such delay, shall be submitted by the Commanding Officer to the District Commander or the Regional Commander, as the case may be, in the form set out in Appendix I.
(2) The report under sub-rule(1) shall continue to be submitted at an interval of every eighth day until the Coast Guard Court is ordered to assemble or punishment under section 57 or section 57A is awarded or, such person is released from the Coast Guard custody.
(3) A copy of every such delay report shall, on or after the forty-eight day of such custody, be also sent by the Commanding Officer directly to the Chief Law Officer and to the regional Commander of the Region in which such person is held in custody.
(4) Where the period of custody exceeds two months, the sanction of the Director General shall be required, who may grant such sanction from time to time, for such period as he may deem necessary but not exceeding a total period of three months.
(5) Where the period of custody referred to in sub-rule (1) exceeds three months, the sanction of the Central Government shall be required”.