Thursday, November 10 2005 17:53 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: Government is likely to finalize tomorrow (Nov 11, 2005) the terms of reference for the judicial inquiry ordered into the Volcker Committee report's findings on Iraq's oil-for-food scam.

The terms of reference are expected to be finalized at the Union Cabinet meeting.

Former Supreme Court Chief Justice R S Pathak, who will head the inquiry, is expected to be given special powers to obtain documents and question anyone with regard to the Iraqi oil deals, official sources said.

The special powers are likely to be given under Section 11 of the Commission of Inquiry Act although it is not a full Commission, the sources said.

Government, on Monday, appointed Pathak to head the inquiry into matters relating to the report of the Independent Inquiry Committee, headed by Paul Volcker, which probed UN oil for food programme for Iraq during Saddam Hussain's regime in 2001.

Union Minister Natwar Singh and several Indian companies have been accused of being 'non-contractual beneficiaries' in the deals.