General Clauses Act, 1897
19. Officials chiefs and sub-ordinates
(1) In any 12[Central Act] or Regulation made after the
commencement of this Act, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of expressing
that a law relative to the chief or superior of an office shall apply to the
deputies or subordinates lawfully performing the duties of that office in the
place of their superior, to prescribe the duty of the superior.
(2) This section applies also to all 12[Central Acts] made after
the third day of January, 1868, and to all Regulations made on or after the
fourteenth day of January, 1887.