Supreme Court Demands Tougher Delhi Policing
The court told Delhi Police to focus on preventing sexual crimes, intensify surveillance and ensure women feel safe in public spaces even at night.
The Supreme Court on Monday directed Delhi Police to adopt stronger preventive measures against sexual crimes, saying authorities need to create fear among anti-social elements who are prone to committing such offences. The observations came while the court was hearing a suo motu case concerning recent rape and sexual assault incidents in Delhi-NCR.
A bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala and comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran stressed that preventing crime should be the priority rather than responding only after an offence has occurred. The court said every woman in Delhi should feel safe while walking on the streets or travelling by road or metro, including at night.
The bench urged Delhi Police to intensify surveillance and policing in vulnerable areas. It emphasised the need for stronger beat patrolling and questioned whether there was an effective mechanism to continuously monitor sensitive pockets and ensure a prompt police response.
The court also asked authorities to identify poorly lit and vulnerable locations and improve safety measures in public spaces. It stressed that simply placing CCTV cameras or recording measures on paper would not be sufficient unless the systems were actively monitored and acted upon.
The Supreme Court's remarks followed its September 28 decision to take suo motu cognisance of a series of reported sexual offences against women and minors in Delhi-NCR. These included the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park in Delhi, the alleged gang rape and murder of a teenage girl in Swaroop Nagar and the alleged sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus.
The court told police officers not to hesitate to take strict action where necessary, while stressing that preventive policing must be strengthened. It also called for greater attention to locations such as public transport areas, educational institutions and other places where women and girls may be vulnerable.
The Supreme Court's intervention places the focus on policing, surveillance, public infrastructure and accountability as part of a broader effort to improve women's safety in Delhi-NCR. The proceedings are continuing, and further directions from the court may follow as authorities report on measures taken.