Commentary on Provisions Miscellaneous provisions Section 19: Directions about premises and sharing of resources
50.Section 19 requires the Commissioner to comply with any direction given by the SPCB in respect of: the location of the Commissioner’s office and the sharing of staff, premises, resources or services with other public bodies. Any such direction is to be published by the SPCB.
51.However, the Commissioner is only subject to possible control by the SPCB to the extent explicitly specified in this provision or in paragraph 3(2) of schedule 1. Aside from these specified matters (which do not infringe upon the core work of the Commissioner), the Commissioner is not an agent of the Crown and there is no general obligation to comply with directions. The Commissioner is therefore independent and is not subject to the general control of the Parliament, the Government, or the SPCB.