NEW DELHI:
The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of recent rape and sexual assault cases reported in Delhi and the National Capital Region, directing the authorities to submit a comprehensive report on measures taken to ensure the safety of women and children in public places.
A Bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran took note of several reported incidents, including an alleged gangrape in a Delhi park and the sexual assault of a minor in a moving bus.
The Bench expressed concern over the circumstances surrounding the incidents and questioned whether adequate preventive mechanisms were in place. The court said public spaces could not become high-risk zones because of inadequate lighting, surveillance or other deficiencies.
The Bench also referred to the alleged sexual assault of a minor in a sleeper bus travelling from Greater Noida to Old Delhi’s Kashmere Gate. The bus had reportedly travelled around 47 km before reaching its destination.
The court directed the concerned authorities to place before it details of the steps being taken to ensure safety and security in public places and to prevent such offences.
The proceedings come amid renewed public concern over women’s safety in the national capital region. The Supreme Court’s intervention will examine the institutional response to such crimes, including preventive measures and accountability of the authorities concerned.