1[16. Competent authority and appellate authority.--(1) For every metro railway, the Central Government shall, for the purposes of this Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint-- (i) a competent authority; and (ii) an appellate authority, for such area as may be specified in the notification. (2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a competent authority unless he is holding, or has held, a judicial office, not lower in rank than that of a subordinate judge. (3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an appellate authority unless he is holding, or has held, a judicial office, not lower in rank than that of a district judge. Explanation.--For the purpose of this section,-- (a) "district judge" includes an additional district judge; (b) "subordinate judge" means subordinate judge in the judicial service of West Bengal, and includes any judicial officer (by whatever name called) of an equivalent rank in the judicial service of any other State.]
<span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><sup>1</sup>[<b>16. Competent authority and appellate authority.</b>--(1) For every metro railway, the Central Government shall, for the purposes of this Act, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint--<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span> (i) a competent authority; and<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span> (ii) an appellate authority,<br> for such area as may be specified in the notification.<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span> (2) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as a competent authority unless he is holding, or has held, a judicial office, not lower in rank than that of a subordinate judge.<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span> (3) A person shall not be qualified for appointment as an appellate authority unless he is holding, or has held, a judicial office, not lower in rank than that of a district judge.<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span> <i>Explanation</i>.--For the purpose of this section,--<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span> (a) "district judge" includes an additional district judge;<br> <span style="margin-left:15px;"></span><span style="margin-left:15px;"></span> (b) "subordinate judge" means subordinate judge in the judicial service of West Bengal, and includes any judicial officer (by whatever name called) of an equivalent rank in the judicial service of any other State.]<br><br>