Section 40. Appointment of Competent Authority.

(1) The State Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint one or more persons to be called Competent Authority for the purpose of exercising the powers conferred, and for performing the duties imposed, on him under this Act in such local area as may be specified in the said notification; and one or more such Competent Authorities may be appointed for one or more such local areas. (2) A person to be appointed as a Competent Authority shall be one- (a) who is holding or has held as office, which in the opinion of the State Government, is not lower in rank than that of a Deputy Collector; or (b) who is holding or has held a post of a Civil Judge, Junior Division; or (c) who has been for not less than five years an Advocate, enrolled under the Advocates Act, 1961 (25 of 1961).