(1) There shall be appointed under and subject to Part 3 of the Public Sector Management Act 1994 an officer to be designated }The Deputy Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation~.

(2) Where the Commissioner is absent or is temporarily incapable of fulfilling his duties, or where the office of Commissioner is vacant, the Deputy Commissioner of Soil and Land Conservation shall act in the office of the Commissioner during that absence or incapacity or until the vacancy is filled, as the case requires, and while so acting shall ¾

(a) have all the powers, functions and authorities; and

(b) perform and carry out the duties,

of the Commissioner under this Act.

[Section 7A inserted by No. 40 of 1974 s.4; amended by No. 42 of 1982 s.10; No. 91 of 1990 s.6; No. 32 of 1994 s.3 (2).]