(1)The Central Government may, by notification, authorise, such officers of the Central Board or the Corporation, as the case may be, not below the rank of Group 'A' officer of that Government, to function as the Authorised Officers for the purposes of Chapter III or Chapter IV, as the case may be, who may, by order-(a)in a case where a dispute arises regarding the applicability of Chapter III or Chapter IV, as the case may be, to an establishment, decide such dispute; and(b)determine the amount due from any employer under any provision of Chapter III or Chapter IV, as the case may be, or the schemes, or rules, regulations made under such Chapter; and(c)for any of the purposes relating to clause (a) and clause (b), conduct such inquiry, as he may deem necessary for such purposes:Provided that no proceeding under this sub-section shall be initiated after the expiry of the period of five years from the date on which the dispute referred to in clause (a) is alleged to have been arisen or, as the case may be, the amount referred to in clause (b) is alleged to have been due from an employer.
