'Ensure every woman feels safe': Supreme Court raps Delhi Police on women's safety, calls for stringent action against rape accused
PTC News Desk: The Supreme Court on Monday called for stringent action and more robust policing strategy in Delhi to deter “anti-social elements” from committing sexual crimes against women and children, stressing that effective policing must create a sense of fear among potential offenders.
The court's comments came a few days after it took note of several recent sexual assault cases reported in different parts of the National Capital Region (NCR). During the hearing, the bench told the Delhi Police that strong action was necessary to prevent such crimes and that policing on the ground needed to be improved.
The court also said that police should not hesitate to take strict action whenever required.
"You need to create fear in the minds of anti-social elements," the bench, comprised of Justices J B Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran, told Delhi Police.
Justice Pardiwala said offenders should be made to believe that they would face serious consequences if they attempted to commit crimes. "They (anti-social elements) should think 'ab kuch kiya toh marr jaenge' ('if we do something now, we'll get killed')," he said.
Article 21 of the Indian Constitution guarantees the right to life and personal liberty. Speaking to a senior Delhi Police officer present in court, Justice Pardiwala urged the police to take their responsibility seriously.
He said every woman who is harassed or sexually assaulted should be treated like a member of their own family and called such crimes a major challenge for the police.
Supreme Court calls for stronger police patrolling
The Supreme Court stressed that regular beat patrolling is important for public safety. It directed Delhi Police personnel to remain mobile and actively patrol their assigned areas instead of simply staying at fixed locations.
The bench questioned why police vans were sometimes parked at one place for long periods instead of being used for regular patrolling.
With the festive season approaching, the court warned that criminal activity could increase during festivals such as Durga Puja and Diwali. It therefore called for increased vigilance and more frequent patrolling.
The court also asked the police to provide details about steps being taken to improve lighting in dark and poorly lit areas. It stressed the need to identify vulnerable locations and take measures to make them safer, particularly for women and children.
- PTC NEWS
