Delegation of authority now requires officers not below Assistant Commissioner rank, tightening customs settlement authorisations. Rule 5(2) of the Customs (Settlement of Cases) Rules, 1999 is amended to insert that when the Commissioner may 'authorise any officer subordinate to him' the authorised officer must be not below the rank of an Assistant Commissioner of Customs or an Assistant Commissioner of Central Excise, as the case may be. The amendment takes effect on publication in the Official Gazette under the enabling provisions of the Customs Act.