Authorisation of officers for the purposes of any provision of this Act

The Government may, by notification in the Gazette, authorise-(a) any officer of the Government, not being an officer below the rank of a Gazetted officer; or (b) any officer of the Central Government, not being an officer below the rank of a Gazetted officer or a commissioned officer in the armed forces of the Union, with the consent of that Government, to exercise the powers conferred on, and discharge the duties imposed upon, an authorised officer under this Act in such area as may be specified in the notification.