Deputy or Assistant Collector to hold charge of that office in absence of Collector until person is appointed or Collector resumes charge.

If the Collector is not able to perform his services, or for any reason vacates his office or leaves his district, or dies, the senior most Deputy or Assistant Collector of the district who may be present in the district, shall temporarily hold charge of the office and for the purposes of this Act shall be deemed to be a Collector until the Collector resumes charge or until the Government appoints his successor and such successor takes charge of his appointment. An officer whose principal functions are different from those of a Deputy or Assistant Collector and who is appointed a Deputy or Assistant Collector for special purposes only, shall not be deemed to be a Deputy or Assistant Collector for the purposes of this section.