Wednesday, July 19 2006 10:40 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Toronto: The inquiry commission into the 1985 bombing of Air India flight has began hearing oral submissions including one from the acquitted Ripudaman Singh Malik.

John Major, the head of the Commission looking into one of Canada's worst disaster that claimed 329 lives, began hearings yesterday to assess submissions from Malik and 19 others from the families of vicitms.

Malik's lawyers had argued that he needed to be represented in the hearings to protect his reputation while the other acquitted Ajaib Singh Bagri chose not to apply for the standing.

The only man convicted in the sensational case was Inderjit Singh Reyat on charges of manslaughter. Malik and Bagri were acquitted in a criminal trial last year.

The families of victims will be making a series of 15-minute oral submissions over the course of next two days, testifying about the impact of the tragedy has had on them, a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation report said.

Major has set out terms of the inquiry in June, almost 21 years after the Air India flight 182 exploded off the coast of Ireland.

Once this hearing ends, Major will launch the second phase of the inquiry in September, which includes the questioning of witnesses and submission of documents that trace the bombings and the subsequent investigations.

He is expected to complete his report by September next year.