The Himachal Pradesh Departmental Enquiries (Powers) Act, 1973

THE HIMACHAL PRADESH DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRIES 

(POWERS) ACT, 1973 

ARRANGEMENT OF SECTIONS 

Sections: 

1. Short title, extent and commencement. 

2. Definition. 

3. Summoning of witnesses and production of documents. 

4. Repeal and savings. 

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THE HIMACHAL PRADESH DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRIES 

(POWERS) ACT, 1973 

(ACT NO. 25 OF 1973)
1
 

(Received the assent of  the Governor on the 12
th
 December, 1973 and 

was published in the Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh (Extra-ordinary), dated the 27
th
 

December, 1973, pp. 1865-1867). 

An Act to provide for the enforcement of attendance of witnesses and 

production of documents in departmental inquiries and for matters 

connected therewith, or incidental thereto. 

BE it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Himachal Pradesh in the 

Twenty-fourth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 

1. Short title, extent and commencement.- (1) This Act may be called 

the Himachal Pradesh Departmental Enquiries (Powers) Act, 1973. 

(2) It shall extend to the whole of Himachal Pradesh. 

(3) It shall come into force at once. 

2. Definition.- For the purposes of this Act, "departmental inquiry" 

means an inquiry held under and in accordance with- 

(i)  any law or any rule made thereunder, or 

(ii)  any rule made under the proviso to Article 309, or continued 

under Article 313, of the Constitution of India. 

3. Summoning of witnesses and production of documents.- For the 

purposes of a departmental inquiry in Himachal Pradesh, the officer conducting 

such an enquiry shall be competent to exercise the same powers for the 

summoning of witnesses and for compelling the production of documents as are 

exercisable by a Commissioner appointed for an enquiry under the Public 

Servants (Inquiries) Act, 1850 (37 of 1850), and all persons disobeying any 

                                                 

1. For Statement of Objects and Reasons see the Rajpatra, Himachal Pradesh (Extra-

ordinary), dated the 18
th

 October, 1973, p. 1573.  



THE HIMACHAL PRADESH DEPARTMENTAL ENQUIRIES (POWERS) ACT, 1973 

 

 

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process issued by such officer in this behalf shall be liable to the same penalties as 

if the same had issued from a Court. 

4. Repeal and savings.- The Punjab Departmental Enquiries (Powers) 

Act, 1955, as in force in the areas added to Himachal Pradesh under section 5 of 

the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), is hereby repealed : 

Provided that anything done or any action taken under the said Act shall 

be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act. 

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