( 1 ) THE aforesaid group of 59 matters has been clubbed together because they involve a common question of law, which is no longer res integra and since they can all be decided and disposed of on the basis of the said question of law. All the matters pertain to the quashing of an f. I. R. /investigation/proceedings under the provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (hereinafter referred to as the Atrocities Act for the sake of brevity ). In all the aforesaid matters either rule or notices have been issued on the footing that the matters would be decided finally at the stage of admission, such notices having been served upon the respondents. In such of the matters that Rule has not been issued. Rule is now issued and the same is made returnable forthwith by consent. All the matters are, therefore, being disposed of finally on a point of law by this judgment and order.

( 2 ) IN applications being Criminal Application Nos. 786/1996, 788/1996, 805/1996, 809/1996, 869/1996, 1344/199, 1406/1996, 1574/1996, 1654/1996, 1878/1996, 266/1997, 1053/1999, 1785/1999, 2161/1999, 1390/2001, 9/2003, 1693/2003, 2029/2003, 387/2004,1012/200