COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ACT, 1952: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF POWERS, SAFEGUARDS AND GAPS IN INDIA’S INQUIRY FRAMEWORK
AUTHOR – KEERTHANA PREETHI A, STUDENT AT THE TAMILNADU DR B R AMBEDKAR LAW UNIVERSITY, PERUNGUDI
BEST CITATION – KEERTHANA PREETHI A, COMMISSION OF INQUIRY ACT, 1952: A CRITICAL ANALYSIS OF POWERS, SAFEGUARDS AND GAPS IN INDIA’S INQUIRY FRAMEWORK, INDIAN JOURNAL OF LEGAL REVIEW (IJLR), 6 (9) OF 2026, PG. 616-624, APIS – 3920 – 0001 & ISSN – 2583-2344.
ABSTRACT
The Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952 (Act No. 60 of 1952) represents a pivotal legislative framework in India’s administrative law, establishing mechanisms for appointing commissions to investigate matters of public importance. This article provides a comprehensive critical analysis of the Act’s legislative framework, procedural safeguards, judicial powers, and constitutional implications. Through a systematic examination of all twelve sections, relevant judicial precedents, and comparative analysis with international inquiry mechanisms, this research identifies significant gaps in enforcement authority, transparency concerns, and potential constitutional conflicts regarding separation of powers. The article argues that while the Act serves essential fact-finding functions, it requires substantial amendments to address modern democratic concerns, enhance transparency, and strengthen procedural fairness for affected persons. This research contributes to ongoing scholarly discourse on administrative inquiry mechanisms and proposes specific reform recommendations for legislative consideration.
Keywords: Commissions of Inquiry Act, 1952; Administrative Law; Fact-Finding Mechanisms; Judicial Review; Constitutional Concerns; Procedural Safeguards.