New Delhi, Sept. 28 -- The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of recent cases of crimes against women and minor girls in Delhi-NCR, observing that the incidents, viewed alongside other reports of sexual offences, indicated a systematic failure of law enforcement and civil administrative authorities to guarantee basic public safety. A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said the alleged gang rape and murder of a teenage girl in Swaroop Nagar, the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old at Aastha Kunj Park and the alleged sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus that travelled over 47 km from Greater Noida to Delhi raised questions about whether systemic law enforcement mechanisms had made meaningful progress since the 2012 Nirbhaya case. The court said public authorities must move beyond expressions of concern and ensure measurable responses with responsibility and accountability fixed on those entrusted with preventing crime, maintaining public order and protecting vulnerable persons.
The bench said the right to live with dignity and free from fear of violence is an intrinsic facet of the right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. It said public spaces, including parks, roads, buses, metro stations, subways and footbridges, cannot become "zones of high risk" because of inadequate lighting, poor surveillance, lax patrolling or other preventable administrative deficiencies.
The court directed the Delhi Police Commissioner to constitute dedicated police teams in every district, headed by an officer not below the rank of deputy superintendent of police, within four weeks, to conduct an immediate survey and inspection of vulnerable pockets. The audit will use NCRB data, local intelligence, complaints and previous incidents to identify locations where poor lighting, inadequate surveillance, insufficient patrolling, abandoned structures, poor access control or other deficiencies may increase the risk of crime. District-wise vulnerability maps will be prepared and shared with adjoining police stations. The bench directed that appropriate patrolling and security arrangements be deployed at identified public parks and vulnerable areas at all times, particularly during evening and early morning hours. A designated officer will be responsible for each location and periodic inspections will be carried out.
It also ordered an immediate lighting and CCTV audit across public parks and vulnerable zones, with non-functional cameras and lighting infrastructure to be repaired or restored. Additional lights and CCTVs are to be installed wherever deficiencies are identified or reported by citizens. Similar audits will cover metro stations, bus stops, bus terminals, railway stations and other major public transport facilities, particularly those in or adjoining vulnerable zones.
The court directed authorities to use existing citizen grievance mechanisms, including the CM Jan Sunwai Portal, to identify public safety deficiencies. Complaints concerning inadequate lighting, insufficient CCTV coverage, dark or isolated stretches and unsafe access points are to be made location-specific where appropriate, forwarded for verification and acted upon within a prescribed timeframe.
The bench also sought a comprehensive status report on safety arrangements in public places frequented by women and children, including parks, roads, public transport facilities, markets and educational institutions. The report will state whether such arrangements remain effective during peak hours, late evenings and early mornings.
The court further sought details on the use of the National Database on Sexual Offenders by Delhi Police, including whether it is regularly accessed for antecedent verification and identification of repeat or habitual sexual offenders, the number of times it was used in investigations in Delhi during the preceding five years and whether information from the database is being translated into lawful preventive measures.
It also sought details from the Ministry of Home Affairs on the Investigation Tracking System for Sexual Offences, including how investigations are monitored against statutory timelines, the officers responsible, the frequency of reviews, remedial action in delayed cases and whether senior officers receive alerts or periodic reports when prescribed timelines are not followed. The registrar general of the Delhi High Court has been directed to submit within four weeks comprehensive information on the present status and functioning of fast-track special courts and exclusive POCSO courts in Delhi. The concerned authorities must also inform the court about the operation of Mission Shakti in Delhi and the functioning of measures including Emergency Response Support System 112, Women Helpline 181 and the Safe City Project, including the status of CCTV coverage. The bench said, "Expressions of concern, devoid of accountability, fall short of answering the larger institutional question," adding that "what is required is a measurable response" with responsibility and accountability fixed upon the authorities entrusted with public safety.
Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.