Defence Act, 1954

Right to copy of proceedings of court-martial.

226.—(1) Any person tried by court-martial shall be entitled on demand at any time, in the case of a general court-martial, within seven years and, in the case of a limited court-martial, within three years after the confirmation of the finding and sentence of the court-martial or after his acquittal, to obtain from the officer or person having the custody of the proceedings of such court-martial, a copy of such proceedings or any specified part thereof upon payment for the same at the prescribed rate, not exceeding four pence for every folio of seventy words or, in such circumstances as may be prescribed, free of charge.

(2) When a person tried by court-martial dies, in the case of a general court-martial, within seven years or, in the case of a limited court-martial, three years after the confirmation of the finding and sentence of the court-martial or after his acquittal, his next of kin shall, within twelve months after his death, be entitled on demand to obtain from the officer or person having the custody of the proceedings of the court-martial a copy of such proceedings or any specified part thereof, upon payment for the same at the rate mentioned in subsection (1) of this section.

(3) The proceedings of a court-martial shall be preserved in the prescribed manner.

(4) For the purposes of this section, the proceedings of a court-martial include the proceedings with respect to revision and confirmation and exhibits.