Shimla: The Centre is moving to use the expertise of retired IAS officers for conducting departmental inquiries against senior administrative officials, with the Department of Personnel and Training (DoPT) beginning the process of preparing a fresh panel of inquiry officers.
The move will allow retired officers meeting prescribed eligibility conditions to be appointed as inquiry officers in individual departmental cases. The panel will remain valid for three years, while the performance of empanelled officers will be reviewed periodically.
The development is also relevant for Himachal Pradesh. The state’s Personnel Department has informed eligible retired IAS officers about the central empanelment exercise and asked interested officers to apply directly to the concerned ministry in the prescribed format.
Applications Invited From Retired IAS Officers
The DoPT has invited applications from retired IAS officers who are willing to take up the role of inquiry officers.
The deadline for submitting applications has been fixed for September 30, 2026. The Himachal Pradesh Personnel Department has also communicated the opportunity to eligible retired IAS officers in the state.
Interested officers can submit their applications directly to the ministry using the prescribed application format.
The initiative is intended to create an available pool of experienced retired administrators who can be assigned departmental inquiries whenever required.
Panel to Remain Valid for Three Years
The panel prepared by the ministry will have a validity period of three years.
However, inclusion in the panel will not automatically mean that an officer will be assigned a case. Inquiry officers from the panel can be appointed for individual departmental inquiries depending on the requirement of the concerned authority.
Their work and performance will also be reviewed from time to time.
This arrangement creates a structured pool of experienced officers who can be called upon for departmental inquiries rather than selecting an inquiry officer separately for every case.
Who Can Become an Inquiry Officer?
The empanelment comes with specific eligibility requirements.
A retired IAS officer applying for inclusion in the panel must meet the prescribed age and integrity conditions. The officer’s age should not be more than 65 years as on the last date of application, which in the current exercise is September 30, 2026.
The officer must also be physically and mentally fit to undertake the responsibilities associated with departmental inquiries.
Another important condition relates to integrity. The applicant should have an unblemished integrity record and should not have any adverse vigilance case against them.
These conditions are intended to ensure that departmental inquiries are handled by experienced officials with appropriate administrative backgrounds and clean service records.
Inquiry Officers Can Be Assigned Individual Cases
Once the panel is created, officers included in it can be appointed as inquiry officers for different departmental cases according to requirements.
The role involves examining the charges, documents, evidence and statements connected with a departmental proceeding before preparing and submitting an inquiry report.
The broader DoPT framework has long provided for the use of retired officers as inquiry officers, with panels maintained for this purpose. Existing central guidelines also prescribe timelines for completion of inquiries and conditions for engaging retired officers.
180-Day Deadline for Completing Inquiries
One of the important provisions is the time limit for completing an inquiry.
An inquiry officer will have to complete the departmental inquiry and submit the report within 180 days from the date of appointment.
This provision is aimed at preventing departmental inquiries from remaining pending indefinitely.
The 180-day timeline is also part of the established DoPT framework for departmental inquiries conducted by appointed inquiry officers, with extensions requiring approval under the applicable rules.
For government departments, timely completion of disciplinary proceedings can help avoid prolonged uncertainty for both the administration and the officials facing inquiries.
Up to ₹40,000 for Secretarial Assistance
The framework also provides for financial support for secretarial assistance in larger cases.
For Category-I cases involving more than 10 witnesses or evidence, up to ₹40,000 can be provided for secretarial assistance to the inquiry officer.
This support can help in managing inquiry-related records, documents and other administrative work.
The wider DoPT guidelines also provide for honorarium to retired inquiry officers based on the number of witnesses involved in a case, along with provisions for transport and other allowances.
Confidentiality of Records Will Be Essential
Retired officers appointed as inquiry officers will also be required to maintain strict confidentiality.
All documents, information and data connected with a departmental case will have to be kept confidential. This is particularly important because departmental inquiries can involve official records, administrative decisions and information relating to government employees.
The inquiry officer will therefore have to handle case material carefully while preparing the final report.
Why the Panel Matters
Departmental inquiries can involve a large volume of records, witnesses and administrative procedures. Using experienced retired administrators can provide departments with access to officials who have spent years dealing with government rules, procedures and decision-making.
The three-year panel system can also provide departments with an established pool of potential inquiry officers.
For Himachal Pradesh, the state Personnel Department’s communication to eligible retired IAS officers gives former senior administrators in the state an opportunity to apply for the central panel.
The immediate deadline for applications is September 30, after which the ministry will proceed with the empanelment process.
The combination of eligibility checks, periodic performance review, confidentiality requirements and a 180-day completion timeline is intended to bring greater structure and time discipline to departmental inquiries.
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