Commission of inquiry

28 May 1977

In power

Janata Party — Centre

Acted

Centre

Under

Section 3, Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (notification S.O. 374(E))

The Janata Party government appointed the Shah Commission, chaired by J. C. Shah, retired Chief Justice of India, to inquire into excesses during the Emergency, including misuse of arrest and detention powers, force in the family planning programme and demolitions. It issued interim reports on 11 March and 26 April 1978 and a final report on 6 August 1978. It reported that official records showed nothing alarming on the economic front and that the law and order situation was under control before the proclamation. Indira Gandhi declined to give evidence on oath, and the Commission ordered her prosecution for refusing to take the oath and answer questions. [1][2][3][4]

Court: On 20 December 1979 the Delhi High Court quashed the prosecutions of Indira Gandhi and Pranab Mukherjee for refusing to take the oath and answer questions before the Commission. [4]

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