(1) Any public officer may, for the purpose of meeting an emergency, by order, requisition the service of able-bodied males not below the age of eighteen years residing within his jurisdiction to act as porters:
Provided that in requisitioning such service no discrimination shall be made on grounds only of religion, race, caste or class or any of them:
Provided further that payment shall be made for such service at rates not less than the normal rates of wages prevailing in the locality with respect to porters.
(2) The circumstances in which a public officer exercises the powers conferred by sub-section (1) shall on every occasion be reduced by him to waiting.
(3) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to authorise a public officer to requisition the service of any person to act as a porter for the carriage of any articles to or from a place which is accessible by road or rail.