Jaipur: The Rajasthan High Court Friday directed authorities to explain prolonged delays in investigations under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, stressing compliance with the prescribed timelines and periodic supervisory review of pending probes.The court has sought affidavits from all investigating officers who handled a case for nearly 26-27 months without completion, as well as from supervisory authorities explaining the failure to comply with the statutory review mechanism.Justice Shubha Mehta issued the directions while hearing a petition filed by Jitendra Kumar of Bharatpur seeking a fair investigation into an FIR related to the SC/ST Atrocities Act registered at Sadar Bayana police station.Petitioner’s counsel Satish Kumar said that despite more than two years and three months having elapsed since registration of the FIR, the investigation had not culminated in a final result. “Rule 7(2) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Rules, 1995 prescribes filing of a chargesheet within 60 days in offences under the Act. In case of delay, the investigating officer is required to record reasons in writing. Rule 7(3) also provides for periodic review of pending investigations by designated senior authorities,” Satish argued.The court observed that completion of the investigation after nearly 26-27 months was “concerning” and said no satisfactory reason for the delay had been placed before it. “Five to six investigating officers had changed during the course of the probe,” the court noted.The present investigating officer, Additional Superintendent of Police Dinesh Kumar Meena, told the court that he took charge on July 23, 2026, and had found offences proved against the accused. He, along with the public prosecutor, assured the court that the result of the investigation would be submitted within two weeks.However, the court asked the public prosecutor to obtain affidavits from all investigating officers named in the factual report, explaining why the investigation could not be completed within 60 days and the reasons for the subsequent delay. It also directed affidavits from the authorities forming the supervisory/review committee under Rule 7(3), explaining non-compliance with the review provisions.The review committee included home department secretary, Scheduled Caste development secretary, Director of Prosecution, Prosecution in charge Officer and DGP.
