26. Summary disposal of charges against officer, Junior Commissioned Officer or Warrant Officer.—(1) Where an officer, a Junior Commissioned Officer or a Warrant Officer is remanded for the disposal of a charge against him by an authority empowered under section 83, 84 or 85 to deal summarily with that charge, the summary of evidence shall be delivered to him, free of charge, with a copy of the charge as soon as practicable after its preparation and in any case not less than-twenty four hours before the disposal.
(2) Where the authority empowered under section 83, 84 or 85, decides to deal summarily with a charge against an officer, junior commissioned officer or warrant officer, he shall unless he dismisses the charge, or unless the accused has consented in writing to dispense with the attendance of the witnesses, hear the evidence in the presence with the accused. The accused shall have full liberty to cross-examine any witness against him, and to call any witness and make a statement in his defence.
(3) The proceedings shall be recorded as far as practicable in accordance with the form in Appendix IV and in every case in which punishment is awarded, the proceedings together with the conduct sheet, summary of evidence and written consent to dispense with the attendance of witnesses (if any) of the accused, shall be forwarded through the proper channel to the superior military authority as defined in section 88.
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