(1) A sailor who completed the following service with continuous “V.G.” conduct may apply to his Commanding Officer for the removal of the letter ‘R’ from his record:-
(a) three years within 5 years of service after punishment for desertion;
(b) four years within nine years of service after punishment for desertion;
(c) six years within any time after punishment for desertion.
The period of five and nine years shall be reckoned from the day after the completion of the sentence served for desertion, or, if the sentence has been suspended before committal, from the day after the award of the punishment.
(2) If the Commanding Officer considers the sailor’s general behaviour to have been satisfactory and is able to recommend him for the concession, he shall forward the application to the Chief of the Naval Staff for consideration along with the original service certificate and promotion and Conduct Record Sheet of the sailor.
(3) Where a sailor has deserted more than once, an application under clause (a), clause (b) or clause (c) of sub-regulation (1) may be made for the removal of last ‘R’ and if this is approved, a sailor may begin to qualify for the removal of a previous ‘R’ under the same provisions, the period office or nine years being reckoned from the date of removal of the last ‘R’ and similarly with any further notation of ‘R’.
135 Desertion after re-management:- Whenever any person, who has previously deserted, is again convicted of desertion after he has re-engaged to complete time for pension, the question of his retention in the service shall be referred to the Chief of the Naval Staff as soon as offender has been dealt with