Section 5: Competent authority

(1) The Central Government may, by order published in the Official Gazette, authorise as many officers of the Central Government (not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government), as it thinks fit, to perform the functions of the competent authority under this Act.

(2) The competent authorities shall perform their functions in respect of such persons or classes of persons as the Central Government may, by order, direct.

Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 15 October 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.

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