Appointment of competent authorities.

The Government may, by notification, appoint an officer who holds or has held an office, which in its opinion is not lower in rank than that of Deputy Collector or an Executive Engineer, to be the competent authority for performing the functions of the competent authority under this Chapter in such area, or in respect of such premises or class of premises, as may be specified in the notification, and more than one officer may be appointed as competent authority in the same area in respect of different premises or different classes of premises.