Handbook for inquiry officers, presenting officers and defence assistants

The Book was first published in 1976. With the publication of the present Seventh Edition, the book enters 24th year of its useful service to the Nation
2. The book is a practical guide in the holding of Oral Inquiry in Disciplinary Proceedings. It explains, in a 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 the correct position of the rules, law and procedures governing such matters.

3. 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 provisions of rules and procedures governing these matters but also, on the other hand, includes specific and distinct practical guidelines for Inquiry Officers, Presenting Officers and the Defence Assistants.

4. The basic law relating to the holding of departmental inquiries against civil servants is included in Article 311 of the Constitution. Statutory rules have been framed to give effect to it. In other cases, the situation is governed by the departmental rules, Standing Orders and the like. In addition, the government have issued numerous Executive Instructions giving clarification and providing guidelines. The beauty of the book is that the position of law, Case-law, Rules and the Government decisions/ orders, properly blended, is mentioned at the same place, many a time in the same running paragraph.