(1) The Central Government shall appoint an officer not below the rank of a Joint Secretary to the Government of India as the nominated authority who shall act for and on behalf of the Central Government for the purposes of this Act and shall exercise such powers as may be prescribed.
(2) The nominated authority may engage any expert having such qualifications and experience and on such terms and conditions as may be prescribed to make recommendations to the authority for the conduct of auction and in drawing up of the vesting order or allotment order in relation to Schedule I coal mines.
(3) The Central Government shall act through the nominated authority for the following purposes, namely:—
(a) conduct the auction process and allotment with the assistance of experts;
(b) execution of the vesting order for transfer and vesting of Schedule I coal mines pursuant to the auction;
(c) executing the allotment order for any Government company or corporation in pursuance of section 5;
(d) recording and mutating incorporeal rights of whatsoever nature including, consents, permissions, permits, approvals, grants, registrations;
(e) collection of auction proceeds, adjustment of preferential payments and transfer of amount to the respective State Governments where Schedule I coal mine is located in accordance with the provisions of this Act.
(4) The nominated authority shall complete the auction or execute the allotment orders of Schedule I coal mines within such time and in accordance with such rules as may be prescribed.
(5) The Central Government may appoint such other officers and staff as it may think fit to assist the nominated authority.
(6) The salaries and allowances and other terms and conditions of service of the nominated authority and such other officers and staff appointed under this section shall be such as may be prescribed.
(7) The nominated authority shall be bound by the written direction given by the Central Government on the quesiton of policy.