Handbook for inquiry officers presenting officers and defence assistants

The book is a practical guide for holding Departmental Inquiry by the Inquiry Officer from his appointment as Inquiry officer till he submits his report. It explains, in & simple language, the various points involved in the mechanism of holding such inquiry with numerous illustrations based on decided cases and vast personal experience of the Authors, and states correct position of law, the rules and procedures, governing the subject.
The basic law relating to the holding of departmental inquiries against civil servants of the Union and the States is enshrined in Article 311 of the Constitution. Statutory rules have been framed by various authorities to give effect to its provisions. In case of other employees, position is governed by departmental rules framed by the competent authorities. In case of workmen, the position is regulated by the Standing Orders. In addition, the Government have issued numerous Executive instructions and clarifications providing guidelines. In the book, we have referred to these provisions, also given extracts where found necessary, so that the end position is explained in a clear and lucid manner.
Three functionaries, viz., the Inquiry Officer, the Presenting Officer and the charged employee (with his defence assistant) are involved in the exercise of holding inquiry. It is essential for them to be fully acquainted not only with the rules and procedures governing such inquiries but they should also be fully capable in giving them practical shape so that the inquiries held are foolproof and not subject to any legal hole-pricking on a future date. The book, on one hand, contains detailed and comprehensive treatment of rules and provisions governing the subject and, on the other hand, includes specific and distinct practical guidelines for Inquiry Officers, Presenting Officers and the Defence Assistants for their effective functioning..
In addition to our own study and experience, there are two more sources responsible for constant improvement of the book. Firstly, there are numerous communications from our readers seeking clarifications or bringing to our notice new situations they come across; and secondly, our interaction with senior officers who are actually dealing with the subject, during Training Programmes attended by us as Faculty.
The present Edition has been updated to July, 2004. The Government Executive Decisions have been given as received by that date and became available. Though every effort has been made to ensure accuracy but some errors might have crept in unwittingly for which the Authors and the Publisher shall not be responsible in any manner.