(1) Exceptional zeal or intelligence in effecting the arrest of a deserter or absentee, or in causing him to surrender, may be recognized by the payment of a reward the amount of which shall be determined having regard to the energy and intelligence shown, but such amount shall not exceed Rs.100/- for the arrest of a sailor who has overstayed his leave, or for the arrest of a deserter, or of a sailor who has:-
(a) broken out of his ship; or
(b) when on service away from his shi, quitted his place of duty and continued to be absent after the time at which he should have returned to the ship; or
(c) when his ship was under sailing orders, continued to be absent without leave after the ship had sailed, provided that the fact of the ship being under sailing orders was generally known.
(2) A reward shall not be offered beforehand, except in rare cases where the recovery of the deserter or absentee is of special importance for other reasons.
(3) No reward shall be paid for the apprehension of an officer.
(4) If the constable, or other person, bringing a deserter or absentee on board, should object to the Commanding Officer’s reward, the question shall be submitted to the Chief of the Naval Staff who shall forward it for a decision of the Government.
147 Charges against deserter: - (1) The amount of the reward and the cost of the deserter’s or absentee’s own railway fare or sea passage shall be the charges that may be deducted towards his desertion expenses from his pay by the ship to which he is brought, whether the escort be Naval, Military, Air force or police.
Such reward and cost shall be shown separately in the appropriate column of the ledger, except when especially remitted by the Chief of the Naval Staff. The amounts chargeable in respect of railway warrants issued by the police in India, for the deserter’s or absentee’s own conveyance shall be communicated to the sailor’s ship by the controller of Defense Accounts (Navy).
(2) The amount charges against the offender’s pay (or if this cannot definitely be ascertained, the approximate sum) shall be noted for information (but not as punishment) on the punishment warrant, and in the daily record of offences.
(3) The cost of telegrams sent concerning deserters or absentees shall not be charges against them.
CHAPTER IVA – SUMMARY PUNISHMENT OF OFFICERS BELOW THE RANK OF COMMANDER