1. Heard Mr. Tejo Mistry, learned counsel for the petitioners and Mr. Vijayant Verma, learned J.C. to G.P. II.

2. In this writ application, the petitioners have prayed for a direction against the respondents for further investigation in connection with Birni P. S. Case No. 156 of 2015 registered for the offences punishable under Sections 447, 448, 341, 324, 323, 380, 427, 504, 506 & 34 of I.P.C. and Sections 3(i), (iii)/9 of the Schedule Caste & Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. A further prayer has been made for handing over the investigation to a competent person not below the rank of Dy.S.P.

3. At the outset, learned counsel for the petitioners has restricted his prayer only with respect to the investigation to be carried out by a person not below the rank of the Dy.S.P. Learned counsel for the petitioners has submitted that in terms of the Section 7 of the Schedule Caste & Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, any investigation with respect to an offence committed under the Schedule Caste & Schedule Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act is to be done by a person not below the rank of Dy.S.P. Learned counsel has further submitted that in view of the p