16. Privileges of Government in suits in which it is concerned.-

Whenever any suit is brought in any District Court against Government, or against any Revenue officer, and the Local Government undertakes the defence thereof, it shall be lawful for the Local Government, by certificate signed by a Secretary thereto, to require -

(a) that such suit shall be tried by the District Judge himself, and shall not be transferred for trial to an Assistant Judge ; and

(b) that the trial of any such suit shall have precedence over the trial of any other suit or other civil proceeding then pending in such Court; and the Court shall give effect to every such requirement. The privilege conferred on the Local Government by the clause (b) of this section shall, mulalis mulandis, apply to any appeal or special appeal against any decree in any such suit as is described in this section.