“inquiring authority”

The Departmental Inquiries (Enforcement of Attendance of Witnesses and Production of Documents) Act, 1972 · s. 3

(b) "inquiring authority" means an officer or authority appointed by the Central Government or by any officer or authority subordinate to that Government to hold a departmental inquiry and includes any officer or authority who is empowered by or under any law or rule for the time being in force to hold such inquiry;