law: The Punjab District Boards Act, 1883
  46. Extraordinary powers of Deputy Commissioner in case of emergency.-
  (1) In cases of emergency, the Deputy Commissioner may provide for the execution of any work, or the doing of any act, which a district board or local board is empowered to execute or do, and the immediate execution or doing of which is, in his opinion, necessary for the service or safety of the public, and may direct that the expense of executing the work or of doing the act shall be forthwith paid by the district board.
  (2) if the expense is not so paid, the Deputy Commissioner may make an order directing the• person having the custody of the balance of the district fund to pay the expense, or so much thereof as is, from time to time, possible, from that balance in priority to all other charges against the same.