UP Govt withdraws controversial order on SC atrocities probe

New Delhi, Jul 7 (UNI) After the National Commission for Scheduled Castes (NCSC) took a very serious note of a recent Uttar Pradesh Government circular directing that cases of atrocities against SCs would be investigated by Police Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors instead of Deputy Superintendents of Police, the state government has withdrawn the controversial order.

The circular was withdrawn on the advice of the Commission, an official release said here today.

Earlier, the NCSC had summoned the State Chief Secretary Navin Chandra Bajpai. The Commission told him that the circular violated the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.

The Commission said the Rules framed for Protection of Civil Rights and Prevention of Atrocities clearly stated that a probe should be conducted by an officer of the level of Dy.

Superintendent of Police.

Now the revised circular issued by the state Government says all such cases where investigations have been entrusted to Inspectors/Sub-Inspectors would get automatically transferred to the Dy. Superintendents of Police.

UNI NAZ AK HT1952