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

The Shah Commission was appointed to inquire “into several aspects of allegations of abuse of authority, excesses and malpractices committed and action taken in the wake of Emergency proclaimed on the 25th June, 1975”.

 Its findings were as follows :

(i) In all 676 opposition leaders were arrested. Nearly one lakh eleven thousand people were arrested under preventive detention laws.

(ii) Severe restrictions were put on the press, sometimes without legal sanctions.

(iv) The General manager of the Delhi Power Supply Corporation received verbal orders from the office of Lt. Governor of Delhi to cut electricity to all newspaper presses at 2 a.m. on 26 June, 1975. Electricity was restored two to three days later the censorship apparatus had had been set up.

(v)Torture and custodial deaths occurred during the emergency. 

(vi) Over-enthusiasm about population control led to cases of compulsory sterilisation.

(vii) Governmental power was exercised by those who held no official position.

(viii) The administration and the police bacame vulnerable to political pressures.