An officer having power not less than an area commander or an equivalent commander or an officer empowered to convene a general court-martial or such other officer as is, with the consent of the Central Government, specified by1[the Chief of the Army Staff] may, in the prescribed manner, proceed against an officer below the rank of lieutenant-colonel, a junior commissioned officer or a warrant officer, who is charged with an offence under this Act, and award one or more of the following punishments, that is to say,--
(a) forfeiture of seniority, or in the case of any of them whose promotion depends upon length of service, forfeiture of service for the purpose of promotion for a period not exceeding twelve months, but subject to the right of the accused previous to the award to elect to be tried by a court-martial;
(b) severe reprimand or reprimand;
(c) stoppage of pay and allowances until any proved loss or damage occasioned by the offence of which he is convicted is made good.
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1 . Substituted b y Act 19 of 1955 , sec. 2 and Sch., for "the Commander-in-Chief.