ARTICLES OF WARCentral

Section 39 of The Navy Act, 1957

Correspondence, etc., with the enemy.

Every person subject to naval law, who,--

(a)traitorously holds correspondence with the enemy or gives intelligence to the enemy; or
(b)fails to make known to the proper authorities any information he may have received from the enemy; or
(c)assists the enemy with any supplies; or
(d)having been made a prisoner of war, voluntarily serves with or aids the enemy; shall be punished with death or such other punishment as is hereinafter mentioned.

Summary

This provision punishes naval personnel for treasonous interactions with the enemy.
It covers holding traitorous correspondence or giving intelligence to the enemy.
Failing to report information received from the enemy to proper authorities is also a crime.
Providing the enemy with supplies or voluntarily aiding them while a prisoner of war violates this rule.
The penalty for these treasonous acts is death or another lower punishment.

Practical examples

1In January 2026, Commander Singh secretly emails troop deployment schedules to an enemy agent, which qualifies as giving intelligence.

2After being captured in battle, a sailor decides to help the enemy troops fix their radar systems instead of remaining a non-participating prisoner of war.

3A radio operator receives a broadcast from the enemy on May 2, 2025 detailing a planned ambush but decides to keep it a secret from the captain.

FAQ

1. What happens under Section 39 of The Navy Act, 1957 if I receive an enemy message and do not tell my commander?

Under Section 39 of the naval law, failing to make known to proper authorities any information received from the enemy is punishable by death or another punishment.

2. Does Section 39 of the defence law cover helping the enemy while captured?

Yes, Section 39 of The Navy Act states that voluntarily serving with or aiding the enemy after being made a prisoner of war is a severe offence.

3. Can a sailor be punished with death under Section 39 of the 1957 Navy Act for giving supplies to the enemy?

Yes, assisting the enemy with any supplies under Section 39 of the Act carries a maximum punishment of death.

Test yourself

1.Which of the following acts is explicitly punished under Section 39 of The Navy Act, 1957?

2.Under Section 39 of the 1957 Navy statute, what is the duty of a person who receives information from the enemy?

3.How does Section 39 of The Navy Act, 1957 address prisoners of war?

4.What distinguishes Section 39 from Section 40 of The Navy Act, 1957 regarding communication with the enemy?

38PreviousSection 38 Penalty for spying.40NextSection 40 Improper communication with the enemy.

←Section 38 Section 40→