When the Police Patel is unable to attend to his duty on account of absence from the village, sudden illness or other cause, he shall place a competent member of the Village Police in charge of his office and make an immediate report to the District Magistrate or authorised officer to whom he is subordinate. The person so placed in charge shall, until receipt of orders to the contrary, be subject to the rights and liabilities of a Police Patel under this Act.