STATE OF A P Vs. VISWANADULA CHETTI BABU

JUDGEMENT

(1.) We have heard learned Counsel for the parties.

(2.) Rule 7 of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995, framed under the Andhra Pradesh Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 reads as under:

(3.) A bare perusal of the Rule would reveal that the State Government/the Director General of Police/ Superintendent of Police after taking into account the experience etc. of a Deputy Superintendent of Police shall appoint him as the Investigating Officer in cases under the above Act. Sub-rule (3) further provides that the Home Secretary and the Social Welfare Secretary to the Government and other officers in charge shall review the working of the Deputy Superintendent of Police and the investigations done by him at the end of every quarter. It is therefore apparent that authority to investigate has to be conferred on a specified officer not below the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police.