law: Sashastra Seema Bal Act, 2007 
  20.  Desertion and aiding desertion.
  1.       Any
  
  person subject to this Act who deserts or attempts to desert the service shall,
  
  on conviction by a Force Court,
  a.     
  
    if he commits the offence when on active duty or when under
  
  orders for active duty, be liable to suffer death or such less punishment as is
  
  in this Act mentioned; and
  b.    
  
    if he commits the offence under any other circumstances, be
  
  liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to seven years or
  
  such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
  1.     
  
   
  2.       Any
  
  person subject to this Act who knowingly harbours any such deserter shall, on
  
  conviction by a Force Court, be liable to suffer imprisonment for a term which
  
  may extend to seven years or such less punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
  3.       Any
  
  person subject to this Act who, being cognizant of any desertion or attempt at
  
  desertion of a person subject to this Act, does not forthwith give notice to his
  
  own or some other superior officer, or take any steps in his power to cause
  
  such person to be apprehended, shall, on conviction by a Force Court, be liable
  
  to suffer imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years or such less
  
  punishment as is in this Act mentioned.
  4.       For the
  
  purposes of this Act, a person deserts,.
  a.     
  
    if he absents from his unit or the place of duty at any time
  
  with the intention of not reporting back to such unit or place, or who, at any
  
  time and under any circumstances when absent from his unit or place of duty,
  
  does any act which shows that he has an intention of not reporting to such unit
  
  or place of duty;
  b.    
  
    if he absents himself without leave with intent to avoid any
  
  active duty.