856. General instructions as to punishments. [§ 7, Act V, 1861, read with § 243 of the Government of India Act, 1935].
- Officers shall avoid undue harshness in awarding punishments and shall discriminate carefully between offences connoting moral turpitude and minor offences. Every effort shall be made to maintain discipline and to correct the minor faults of police officers by instructions and by warnings without resorting to more severe punishments.In awarding punishment, the general character of the offender and the nature of his past service shall be taken into consideration. No major punishment shall be awarded to a police officer, until proceedings, as prescribed hereinafter, have been drawn up against him.For the purposes of punishment an officer officiating in a higher rank shall be deemed to be of that rank.NOTE. - Provision for the discharge of probationary Sergeants, Sub-Inspectors, Assistant Sub-Inspectors and constables are made in the relevant portion of regulations 739, 741, 743 and 746 respectively.
