Section 17: Exemptions from and deferment of service, etc.

(1)
Notwithstanding anything to the contrary, the Directorate may, with the prior approval of the National Defence and Security Council, by an order published in the Gazette exempt any person from all or any of the provisions of this Act, and may subject thereto and with such approval impose, in relation to any exemption, such conditions as it may think fit.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1) of this section and with the approval of the National Defence and Security Council, the Directorate may, on being satisfied that there is reasonable cause for so doing by an order, defer the calling-up of any person or category of persons liable to be called up for service in the service corps for such period as may be specified in the order, and may subject to such approval reduce or extend the period of service specified in section 2 of this Act in relation to the service of any person or category of persons liable to be called up.
(3) Where an order is made for an exemption of any person it shall be the duty of the Directorate to issue to that person a certificate of exemption in the prescribed form, and for the purposes of this section, where the service of any person in the service corps is deferred or where the period of service is extended or reduced, as the case may be, pursuant to subsection (2) of this section, a certificate of exemption setting out such particulars or the prescribed particulars shall be issued to such person.