Section 16. Privileges of Government in suits in which it is concerned.

Privileges of 1[Government] 2*** in suits in which it is concerned.--Whenever any suit is brought in any District Court 3[against the 1[Government]] 2*** or against any Revenue officer, 4[and the 1[Government] 2*** undertakes] the defence thereof, it shall be lawful 5[for the 6[State] Government], by certificate signed by a Secretary thereto, to require-- (a) that such suit shall be tried by the District Judge himself, and shall not be transferred for trial to an Assistant Judge; and (b) that the trial of any such suit shall have precedence over the trial of any other suit or other civil proceeding then pending in such Court; and the Court shall give effect to every such requirement. The privilege conferred 7[on Government] by the clause (b) of this section shall, mutatis mutandis, apply to any appeal or special appeal against any decree in any such suit as is described in this section.