Who can be appointed as IO?

4. Who can be appointed as IO? The rules do not prescribe any qualification for appointment as IO. However, principles of natural justice require that the person appointed as IO has no bias and had no occasion to express an opinion in the earlier stages of the case. Besides, there are a number of Government Instructions on the subject such as the following: S.No Reference No. Date Gist (a) DP&AR OM NO. 35014/1/76-Estt.(A) 29 Jul 1976 Unless unavoidable Disciplinary Authority should refrain from being IO. (b) MHA OM No. F. 6/26/60-Ests. (A) 16 Feb 1961 Although there is no bar to appoint the immediate superior of the CO as IO, as a rule, the person who is appointed as IO should not be suspected of any bias in such cases. (c) Dept of Per O.M. No. 7/12/70-Ests.(A) 6 Jan 1971 IO should be senior in rank to the officer inquired against (d) O.M. No. 42/20/2008- AVD I. 27 Jul 2009 Terms and conditions for appointment of retired officers as IO