It shall be an offence punishable under this Act for any member of a police force whose duty for the time being is to protect from acts of violence any passenger or goods being conveyed upon any railway (as defined in the India Railway Act, 1890) (9 of 1890), to fail in the proper performance of that duty, and notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in any law or order for the time being in force regulating discipline in the police force of which he is a member but without prejudice to any other punishment to which he may be liable thereunder, such member of a police force of which he is a member but without prejudice to any other punishment to which he may be liable thereunder, such member of a police force shall be liable, on conviction for such offence by a competent criminal court, to be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or, if on the occasion of this offence any loss of human life occurs, with death or imprisonment for life or rigorous imprisonment
1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons see the Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh (Extraordinary), dated 31st, May, 1969, p. 382 2 THE HIMACHAL PRADESH POLICE (PROTECTION ON RAILWAYS) ACT, 1969 for a period which may extend to ten years.