New Delhi, Oct. 5 -- The Supreme Court on Monday directed the Delhi Police to strengthen surveillance and patrolling across the National Capital Region, saying women must feel safe travelling on roads and in the metro even late at night. The court said preventing crimes against women should be the priority rather than focusing only on action after an offence has occurred.

A bench of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said there was a perception that women were unsafe in Delhi, particularly in vulnerable areas. The court was hearing a suo motu case, titled "In Re: Recent rape incidents in Delhi NCR", in the presence of senior Delhi Police officials and amicus curiae, senior advocate Liz Mathew. "We must ensure that every woman in NCT of Delhi should feel safe even at 11 pm whether travelling on the roads or in metro," the bench said.

The judges asked police to increase surveillance and beat patrolling at locations where women may be vulnerable, including bus stands, railway and metro stations, parks, schools and colleges. They also asked authorities to identify areas with poor lighting and inadequate security.

"What is important is to prevent a crime, not what you do after a crime is committed," the bench said, adding that existing deficiencies should not create opportunities for offenders.

The court also questioned the effectiveness of CCTV cameras without continuous monitoring. It asked police to consider whether surveillance systems were being watched adequately through control rooms.

Justice Pardiwala called on the police to act firmly against those likely to commit offences. "Don't let us down. Rise to the occasion," he said, describing crimes against women as a major challenge for the police department.

The bench also referred to the need for police to maintain regular contact with residents. "People should not run away from you. People should come and talk to you," it said.

The court referred to the 2012 Delhi gangrape case while discussing the role of illegal eateries and liquor consumption in some areas. It said police needed to identify places where anti-social elements gather and take preventive action.

The amicus curiae raised the issue of beat patrolling and vacancies in the police force. The bench said recruitment should be pursued alongside stronger policing at the grassroots level. The court also cautioned police to remain vigilant during the upcoming festival period, when crowds and public activity increase.

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance on September 28 of reports concerning crimes against women and minor girls in Delhi and the NCR. The cases included the alleged gangrape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park, the gangrape and murder of a teenage girl in Swaroop Nagar, and the sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus that travelled more than 47 km from Greater Noida to Delhi without being intercepted.

The bench said it would pass a detailed order and posted the matter for further hearing on November 16.

Published by HT Digital Content Services with permission from Millennium Post.