Section 185 in The Naval Ceremonial, Conditions Of Service And Miscellaneous Regulations, 1964
185. Promotion as Commissioned Master-At-Arms.
(1)A candidate to be eligible for promotion, as a Commissioned Master-At-Arms must :(a)be not more than 37 years of age on the date of promotion; provided that the Chief of the Naval Staff may relax the age limit up to a maximum of one year in exceptional cases;(b)be a Master-At-Arms with not less than one year's service in that [rank] [Substitued by S.R.O. 192,dated 10th September, 1973](c)have passed the prescribed course of instruction.(2)Before a candidate is selected to undergo the course referred to in Cl. (c) of sub-regulation (1), he must pass a preliminary professional examination.(3)To be eligible to sit for the preliminary professional examination, a candidate must:(a)be qualified under Regulation 181;(b)be at least a Regulating Petty Officer, passed professionally for Master-At-Arms; and(c)have passed the educational test for Branch Rank.(4)Candidates who pass the preliminary professional examination shall be placed on a roster for selection to undergo a further course and examination for Commissioned Master-At-Arms in accordance with the date of passing the preliminary professional "examination. In making the selection, due consideration shall be given to seniority, percentage of marks obtained in the preliminary professional examination and their reports on the form specified in Appendix III.(5)The educational test may be taken either before or after the preliminary professional examination but a candidate who has not passed the test before passing this examination is required to do so within 3 years of the date of passing the preliminary professional examination. If he does not do so, his name shall be removed from the roster. A candidate whose name has been so removed and who subsequently passes the educational test may have his name replaced on the roster but his position thereon shall be determined by the date of passing the latter examination.(6)Candidates who satisfy all the requirements of sub-regulation (1) may be considered for promotion to Branch Rank.(7)A candidate for the Branch Rank who fails in the prescribed qualifying course may, on the expiry of 2 years from the date of failure, be allowed a further opportunity to qualify, if still otherwise eligible, and may be given his original position on the course roster, provided he satisfies the following conditions :-(a)recommended for a further trial by the Captain of the ship or establishment concerned, and(b)continuously recommended for Branch Rank under Regulation 181.If accepted for the course, he will be required to take all the courses and examination, and on qualifying, he will be considered for promotion along with other eligible sailors.
