Section 47 of The Navy Act, 1957
Every person subject to naval law, who,--
- (a)wilfully disobeys any lawful command of his superior officer; or
- (b)in the presence of his superior officer, or otherwise shows or expresses his intention to disobey a lawful command given by such superior officer; or
- (c)uses insubordinate, threatening or insulting language to his superior officer; or
- (d)behaves with contempt to his superior officer; shall, if the offence is committed on active service or in a manner to show wilful defiance of authority, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to ten years or such other punishment as is hereinafter mentioned and in other cases, be punished with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years or such other punishment as is hereinafter mentioned.
Summary
- Section 47 of the Act establishes punishments for sailors who disobey or disrespect their superior officers.
- It covers wilful disobedience of any lawful command given by a superior.
- It includes showing an intention to disobey, using threatening language, or behaving with contempt.
- The maximum penalty is ten years in prison if the offence happens on active service or shows wilful defiance.
- The maximum penalty is three years in prison for all other cases.
Practical examples
FAQ
1. What is the maximum punishment for disobeying a command on active service under Section 47 of The Navy Act, 1957?
Under Section 47 of the naval law, the maximum punishment is imprisonment for up to ten years.
2. Does Section 47 of the military law punish bad language?
Yes, Section 47 of the Act punishes anyone who uses insubordinate, threatening, or insulting language to a superior officer.
3. What happens under Section 47 of The Navy Act, 1957 if someone just acts with contempt?
Behaving with contempt towards a superior officer is an offence under Section 47 and can lead to imprisonment.
Test yourself
Q1.Under Section 47 of The Navy Act, 1957, what is the maximum prison sentence for wilful defiance of authority?
Q2.Which of the following behaviours is explicitly criminalized under Section 47 of The Navy Act, 1957?
Q3.If a sailor insults a superior officer in a non-active service setting without wilful defiance, what is the maximum prison term under Section 47 of The Navy Act, 1957?
Q4.What kind of language towards a superior officer violates Section 47 of The Navy Act, 1957?