(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, the Central Government shall appoint by notification, a list of assessors with such qualifications and experience in admiralty and maritime matters, the nature of duties to be performed by them, the fees to be paid to them and other ancillary or incidental matters for the purposes of this Act, in the manner as may be prescribed.

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(2) The appointment of assessors shall not be construed as a bar to the examination of expert witnesses by any of the parties in any admiralty proceeding.

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(1) The Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, make rules for carrying out the purposes of this Act.

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(2) In particular, and without prejudice to the generality of the foregoing power, the rules may provide for all or any of the following matters, namely:—

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(a) the qualification, experience, nature of duties and fee to be paid to the assessors and other ancillary or incidental matters under sub-section (1) of section 13;

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(b) the practice and procedure of admiralty jurisdiction under this Act including fees, costs and expenses in such proceedings; and

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(c) any other matter which is required to be, or may be, prescribed.

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(3) Until rules are made under sub-section (2) by the Central Government, all rules for the time being in force governing the exercise of admiralty jurisdiction in the High Courts shall be applicable.

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(4) Every rule made under this Act shall be laid, as soon as may be after the rule is made, or notification issued before each House of Parliament while it is in session for a total period of thirty days comprised in one session or in two or more successive sessions and if, before the expiry of the session immediately following the session or the successive sessions aforesaid both Houses agree in making any modification in the rule or notification or both Houses agree that the rule or notification should not be made or issued, the rule or notification shall thereafter have effect, only in such modified form or be of no effect, as the case may be; so, however, that any such modification or annulment shall be without prejudice to the validity of anything previously done under that rule or notification.

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