Should Inquiry Officer administer oath to witnesses?
Departmental inquiries need not be conducted in accordance with the technical requirement of criminal trials, but they must be fairly conducted and in holding them, considerations of fair play and natural justice must govern the conduct of the IO. In departmental inquiry the Inquiry Officer should not administer oath to witnesses. Please read General Tips - 15 of this blog.
With best wishes,
Keshav Ram Singhal
Abbreviation
IO = Inquiry Officer / Enquiry Officer / Inquiring Authority
PO = Presenting Officer
DR = Defence Representative
CE = Charged Employee / Charged Officer
DA = Disciplinary Authority
AA = Appellate Authority
