(1) Without prejudice to the provisions contained in section 18 every member of the Dal who shall be guilty of any violation of duty or wilful breach or neglect of any rule or lawful order made by a superior officer or who shall withdraw from the duties of his office without permission or who being absent on leave fails, without reasonable cause to report himself for duty on the expiration of the leave or who engage himself without authority in any employment other than his duty as a member of the Dal, or who shall be guilty of cowardice, shall, on conviction, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months.
(2) Notwithstanding anything contained in the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (II of 1974), an offence punishable under this section shall be cognizable.