Section 258: Special disciplinary provisions

(1)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Act, a Service Chief may by order direct that, during a period of emergency, the powers conferred on him by this Act to reduce or disrate a warrant or petty officer, a non-commissioned officer or leading rating, may be exercised by any person who otherwise is not entitled to exercise those powers under whose command the warrant or petty officer, non-commissioned officer or leading rating is serving, and reference in this subsection to the Service Chief shall be construed accordingly.
(2) For the purpose of subsection (1) of this section and the foregoing sections, reduction in rank and disrating does not include reversion from acting rank or rate.