‘Need to create fear’: Supreme Court’s message to Delhi Police on crimes against women
The court observed that there is a growing perception that women are not safe in the national capital
The Supreme Court has urged the Delhi Police to proactively instill fear in anti-social elements and habitual offenders to enhance women's safety in Delhi-NCR, emphasizing crime prevention over reactive measures. The court called for a collective effort to ensure every woman feels secure, even late at night, and directed police to track suspects through the national database of sexual offenders, paying particular attention to areas around colleges and unauthorized eateries.
The Supreme Court has urged the Delhi Police to proactively instill fear in anti-social elements and habitual offenders to enhance women's safety in Delhi-NCR, emphasizing crime prevention over reactive measures. The court called for a collective effort to ensure every woman feels secure, even late at night, and directed police to track suspects through the national database of sexual offenders, paying particular attention to areas around colleges and unauthorized eateries.
The Supreme Court has urged the Delhi Police to proactively instill fear in anti-social elements and habitual offenders to enhance women's safety in Delhi-NCR, emphasizing crime prevention over reactive measures. The court called for a collective effort to ensure every woman feels secure, even late at night, and directed police to track suspects through the national database of sexual offenders, paying particular attention to areas around colleges and unauthorized eateries.
The Supreme Court on Monday emphasised the need for the Delhi Police to create a sense of fear among goons and anti-social elements who commit crimes against women.
Hearing a suo motu case concerning recent rape incidents in Delhi-NCR, a bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran observed that there was a growing perception that women were not safe in the national capital.
“What is important is to prevent a crime, not what you do after a crime is committed,” the bench said.
The court called for a collective effort to prevent crimes against women in Delhi, stressing that rape is unacceptable in any society.
“We have to work together. We must ensure that every woman in Delhi-NCR should feel safe even at 11 pm, whether travelling on the roads or the Metro,” the bench said.
The court also emphasised the need to create fear among habitual offenders and anti-social elements who may be prone to committing such crimes.
Referring to the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park in Delhi, the bench questioned the police on the proactive measures that should have been taken to prevent the incident.
“It has been said people warned you about these people (criminals) even in this unfortunate case,” the bench said.
The court directed the police to track suspects through the national database of sexual offenders and focus on areas around colleges and unauthorised eateries in the city.
“There are hooligans who keep harassing girl students. We are told there are thousands of unauthorised eateries across Delhi and unsocial elements gather there. Even liquor is allowed in such places,” the bench said.
The court also took cognisance of the alleged gang rape and murder of a teenage girl in Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar area, as well as the sexual assault of a minor girl inside a moving sleeper bus.