According to the Home Department notification, Justice Mishra was appointed under the Commission of Inquiry Act, 1952.

The terms of reference require Justice Mishra to enquire into the circumstances in which Anjana Mishra had to undertake the journey on the night of Janyary 9 leading to the alleged gang rape. He will also find out whether there was any security lapse in allowing her to undertake the journey without being accompanied by police personnel and the circumstances in which Santanu Guru of a local television channel accompanied her.

The probe will also cover the facts and circumstances relating to the incident, the persons responsible for the crime and the involvement of persons or organisations other than the perpetrators. Justice Mishra will also have to look into whether there was any security lapsein a police patrol van hailing the car in which Anjana Mishra was held captive but not chasing the car as alleged. The commission will also investigate matters connected with or incidental to the alleged gang rape. The headquarters of the commission will be at Cuttack but it may hold an inquiry at other places if necessary.

Chief Minister J B Patnaik told newspersons at New Delhi, that he had requested the commission to give its report at the earliest.