Section 50: Offences by or in relation to sentries, watch, etc.

(1) A person subject to service law under this Act who, while on guard duty or watch-
(a) sleeps at his post or watch; or
(b) when not on duty at a post or watch is asleep at a time when he is not allowed to be asleep; or
(c) is drunk; or
(d) leaves his post or watch without having been regularly relieved; or
(e) otherwise absents himself from any place, post or watch where it is his duty to be,
is guilty of an offence under this section.
(2) For the purposes of this section, a person shall be treated as being drunk if owing to the influence of alcohol or any drug, whether alone or in combination with any other circumstances, he is unfit to be entrusted with his duty.
(3) A person subject to service law under this Act who strikes or otherwise uses force against any person on guard duty or watch being a member of the Armed Forces, or of any force co-operating with the Armed Forces, or by threat or force compels that person to let him or any other person pass, is guilty of an offence against this section.
(4) A person guilty of an offence under this section is liable on conviction by a court-martial, to imprisonment for-
(a) five years, if the offence was committed on active service; and
(b) a term not exceeding two years if the offence was not committed on active service.
(5) Reference in this section to a person on guard duty or watch is reference to a person who-
(a) is posted or ordered to patrol, keep watch or has adopted the position of sentry at a post or has undertaken the patrol; or
(b) is a member of a guard or other party mounted or ordered to patrol for the purpose of protecting any person, premises or place.
(6) The foregoing provisions of this section shall apply in relation-
(a) to a person posted or ordered to patrol or keep watch or who has adopted the position of sentry at a post or has undertaken the patrol; and
(b) to a member of a party mounted or ordered to patrol or keep watch for purposes or preventing or controlling access to or egress from any premises or place or of regulating traffic by road, by rail, by air or any inland navigation,
as they apply to a person on guard duty or watch.