15Commissioner of payments to be appointed and his powers

(1) For the purposes of disbursing the amounts payable to the prior allottees of Schedule I coal mines, the Central Government shall appoint an officer not below the rank of Joint Secretary to the Government of India, to be the Commissioner of payments.

(2) The Central Government may appoint such other officers and staff as it may think fit to assist the Commissioner and thereupon the Commissioner may authorise one or more of such officers also to exercise all or any of the powers exercisable by him under this Act.

(3) Any officer authorised by the Commissioner to exercise any powers may exercise those powers in the same manner and with the same effect as if they have been conferred on him directly by this Act and not by way of authorisation.

(4) The salaries and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the Commissioner and other officers and staff appointed under this section shall be such as may be prescribed.

(5) The Central Government shall, within a period of thirty days from such date as may be notified, pay to the Commissioner for payment to the prior allottee, an amount equal to the compensation determined by the nominated authority.

(6) Separate records shall be maintained by the Commissioner in respect of each Schedule I coal mine in relation to which payments have been made to him under this Act.