Section 16. Offences punishable more severely on active duty than at other times.

Any person subject to this Act who commits any of the following offences, that is to say,— (a) forces a safeguard, or forces or uses criminal force to a sentry; or (b) breaks into any house or other place in search of plunder; or (c) being a sentry sleeps upon his post, or is drunk; or (d) without orders from his superior officer leaves his guard, picket, patrol or post, shall, on conviction by a Security Guard Court,— (i) if he commits any such offence when on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to fourteen years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned; and (ii) if he commits any such offence when not on active duty, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years of such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned