To strengthen enforcement of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, the Government of Odisha has issued a notification empowering Police Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors to arrest, investigate, and prosecute cases under the Act.
Previously, these powers were reserved for officers of the rank of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DySP) and above. The new directive, issued by the Home Department under Notification No. HOME-CPM-MISC-0154-2025, dated August 30, 2025, extends these powers to Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors across the state.
The notification states that these officers may now exercise authority before any Special Court designated under the Act, within their territorial jurisdiction. The decision aims to improve responsiveness and expedite legal action in cases involving atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes.
The directive has been circulated to all relevant authorities, including the Director General of Police, CID, IIRPC, all District Collectors, and Commissioners of Police in Cuttack and Bhubaneswar. The Home Department has also requested the Director of Printing, Stationery & Publications to publish the notification in the extraordinary issue of the Odisha Gazette.
This administrative reform is expected to enhance grassroots-level enforcement and ensure timely justice for victims of caste- and tribe-based discrimination and violence.
