31. Summary disposal of charge against officers and warrant officers .-(1) [When a charge against an officer or warrant officer is to be summarily disposed of under section 86,] [Substituted by S.R.O. 5(E), dated 8.11.1990. ] a copy of the summary of evidence shall be delivered to him free of charge as soon as practicable after its preparation, and in any case not less than forty-eight hours before such disposal.
(2)The officer dealing with the case summarily under section 86 shall hear the witnesses, if any, in the presence of the accused, but may dispense with the hearing of every or all witnesses if the accused person consents in writing thereto.(3)[ If the accused person demands that the evidence be taken on oath, the officer dealing with the case summarily shall administer to each witness before he gives his evidence, the oath or affirmation as prescribed in rule 118, but the accused person shall not be sworn.] [ Substituted by S.R.O. 24(E), dated 16.8.1974.](4)The accused may put questions in cross-examination to any witness, call any witnesses and make a statement in his defence.(5)The proceedings shall be recorded as far as practicable in accordance with Form D.1 or Form D.2 (as may be appropriate) of the forms for use for summary disposal of charges against officers and warrant officers contained in the Fourth Schedule and in every case in which a punishment is awarded, the original and a certified true copy of the proceedings together with the summary of evidence shall be forwarded through the proper channel to the superior air force authority as defined in section 89.
