Ten Problems of Denotified and Nomadic Tribes ADVISORY GROUP ON DENOTIFIED AND NOMADIC TRIBES 10.1 The Comrrission had received a petition Irom the Denotified and Nomadic Tribals Rights Act on (iroup highlighting the problems faced by the Denotified Tribes who are present ir varying concentrations in a number of States. The petition alleged that persons belonging to the Denotified Tribes were still being treated as habitual offenders and fac«-d mob-lynching, arson and police brutality. On consideration of the petition, an Advisory Group on Denotified and Nomadic Tribes was set up to advise the Commission as to the nature of enquiry that it may undertake, as well as the recommendatior® that it could make to deal with the issues raised in the petition. 10.2 On 15 Febmary 2000, the Commission held a high-level meeting to discuss the specific problems of Denotified Tribes and Nomadic Tribes (DNTs 8c NTs). The meeting was attended by the Chairperson and all the members of the Commission; Smt Mahasveta 6evi, President, and Dr. G.N. Devy, Secretary of the Denotified and Nomadic Tribals Rights Action Group; Chief Secretaries of Karnataka, Rajasthan and West Bengal; Addtional ChiefSecretariesof Madhya Pradesh and Maharashtra; Principal Secretaries of Ardhra Pradesh, Gujarat and Punjab; Secretary Home. Gujarat; Joint Secretary, Minisey of Home Affairs and senior officers of NHRC. 10.3 There wasa general consensus that the Habitual Offenders Act was rarely invoked and there were Iwrdly any cases being registered under the Act. It was therefore agreed that the Act could be repealed with the recommendation of the National Human Rights Commission. The other decisions taken at the meeting are indicated below. 10.4 Dependir^ upon the spread of population of the Denotified Tribes and Nomadic Tribes (hereinafier referred to as DNTs and NTs) in the State, each State shall decide on the kind of specific apparatus required for dealing with the special requirements and problems of DNTs and NTs and cases of atrocities against them and report the same to the Commissior. 10.5 A retired senior police officer of high reputation shall be appointed in every State by the Commission to liaise with the tribals and report about their problems and cases