Under the Essential Commodities Act, 1955, the CENTRAL GOVERNMENT may, by order, DIRECT that any power exercisable by it (not being a power of making regulations or rules) may also be exercised by such officer or authority as it may specify. This power of DELEGATION is conferred by:

Section 5 of the Essential Commodities Act, 1955 empowers the Central Government, notwithstanding anything contained in the Act, to DELEGATE by order the exercise of any of its powers (other than the power to make rules or by-laws) to any officer or authority, subject to the specified conditions. This enables flexible, subordinate enforcement. Section 3 confers the control-order power, Section 7 the punishment for contravention, and Section 2 the definitions. The delegation provision reflects the Act's administrative architecture. Delegation is thus a separate, express power distinct from the rule-making power.