Cap. 16 Art. 306Exercise of functions assigned to the Director.

(1) Any officer who holds the degree of doctor of laws or equivalent qualification and either a warrant to practise as an advocate or a warrant to practise as a notary public and who performs duties in the Public Registry may exercise all or any of the functions which are under any provision of this Code or of any other law assigned to the Director of the Public Registry, and that law shall be construed accordingly.

(2) In the exercise of any such function, the said officer shall have the same powers and the same obligations as are conferred or imposed upon the Director, without prejudice to the provisions of sub-article (4) of this article.

(3) The words ‘signed by the Director’ or words to similar effect, with reference to certificates of civil status, shall be taken to include any seal, emblem or signature made or processed by photographic means, by print or in any other form at the discretion of the Director as further authenticated by the signature of the issuing officer authorised for the purpose by the Director.

(4) The officers referred to in this article shall, in the exercise of their functions under this Code or any other law, be subject to the authority, direction and control of an Assistant Director so delegated by the Director of the Public Registry and referred to in this article as the Deputy Director: Provided that the exercise of the Deputy Director’s powers under this article shall be without prejudice to the overall authority of the Director.

(5) The Director of the Public Registry shall be the only competent person to represent in any capacity the Public Registry in any legal proceedings under this Code or any other law.