Bhubaneswar, Apr 10 (UNI) The Orissa government today decided to request the Union government to amend the Prevention of Atrocities on Scheduled Caste and Schedule Tribe Act for the speedy disposal of the cases.

Home Secretary T K Mishra told newspersons here that the state government had decided to request the union government to amend the Act to empower a Police Inspector to inquire the SC/ST atrocities cases.

He said the decision was taken at a meeting held here to assess the situation.

Mr Mishra said under the existing Act only a Police officer in the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police could inquire into cases of atrocities on SC/ST.

Since the number of DSP rank officers was very less in the state inquiry into the allegations of atrocities could not be made speedily resulting in pending of number of cases.

The Home Secretary said a decision was taken to launch a month long special drive beginning from tomorrow to dispose of the pending cases.

He said during the past seven years as many as 9889 cases were reported of which 1751 were pending. While 1749 cases were reported during 2007, as many as 1500 cases were reported in the previous year, Mr Mishra said.

UNI BD-DP SJC DB1922