The Shah Commission was appointed in May 1977 by the Janata Party government which was headed by Justice J.C. Shah, retired Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India to inquire “into several aspects of allegations of abuse of authority, excesses and malpractices committed and action taken in the wake of the Emergency proclaimed on the 25th June 1975”.

The government reacted to the matter as, Indira Gandhi wrote a letter to Shah Commission that subversive forces were trying to obstruct the progressive programmes of the government and were attempting to dislodge her from power through extra-constitutional means.