Question

The Shah Commission was appointed in 1977 by the Janata Party Government. Why was it appointed and what were its findings?

Answer 1

The Shah commission was appointed in May 1977 by Janata Party government which was headed by J.C. Shah, retired chief justice of Supreme Court of India to look into the matters of:

1. Allegations of abuse of authority, excesses and malpractices as well as actions taken in the name of emergency proclaimed on 25 June 1975.
2. The Commission performed to examine various evidences to give testimonies even including Indira Gandhi to appear before Commission, but she refused to answer any questions.

Findings of Shah Commission :-

1. It found many ‘excesses’ committed during Emergency.
2. Under preventive detention laws nearly one lakh eleven thousand people were arrested.
3. Press censorship took place without any proper legal sanctions.
4. Even general manager of Delhi Power Supply Corporation received verbal orders from the officers of the Lt. Governor of Delhi to cut electricity to all newspapers press at 2 a.m. on 26 June 1975.