The Himachal Pradesh Departmental Enquiries (Powers) Act, 1973

1. (1) This Act may be called the Himachal Pradesh Departmental Enquiries (Powers) Act, 1973.
2. (2) It shall extend to the whole of Himachal Pradesh.
3. (3) It shall come into force at once.

For the purposes of this Act, "departmental inquiry" means an inquiry held under and in accordance with-

1. (i) any law or any rule made thereunder, or
2. (ii) any rule made under the proviso to Article 309, or continued under Article 313, of the Constitution of India.

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 process issued by such officer in this behalf shall be liable to the same penalties as if the same had issued from a Court.

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in the areas added to Himachal Pradesh under section 5 of the Punjab Re-organisation Act, 1966 (31 of 1966), is hereby repealed : Provided that anything done or any action taken under the said Act shall be deemed to have been done or taken under this Act.