New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed strong concern over a recent spate of rape cases in Delhi, questioning the Delhi Police and the city administration over their failure to ensure the safety of women and children in public spaces.
The court’s remarks came after four cases involving minor girls were reported in the national capital within two weeks. A bench comprising A Bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran said the incidents pointed to a broader breakdown in law enforcement and public administration.
The bench said places such as parks and buses could not be allowed to turn into dangerous areas because of inadequate lighting, insufficient surveillance or a lack of basic civic infrastructure.
“These incidents starkly highlight a failure of law enforcement. Public spaces, including parks and buses, cannot be permitted to become zones of high risk due to lack of illumination, poor surveillance and other administrative facilities,” the bench said.
The court said the repeated crimes raised fundamental questions about the ability of the authorities to protect people from fear and violence. It underlined that living with dignity and feeling safe were integral to the fundamental rights guaranteed by the Constitution, as reported by India Today.
“One cannot help but draw painful parallels to the Nirbhaya incident of 2012,” the bench said.
The reference was to the rape and murder of a 23-year-old physiotherapy student in Delhi in December 2012. The woman was assaulted by six men, including a juvenile, on a moving bus on December 16 and died at a hospital in Singapore on December 29. The case led to widespread protests and prompted sweeping legal changes relating to sexual offences and crimes against women.
The court also took exception to public representatives merely issuing statements of concern after such incidents. It said expressions of sympathy and solidarity would have little meaning unless followed by concrete steps and accountability.
“Expressing solidarity is not a solution. What is required is a measurable response,” the bench observed.
Delhi Shaken By Four Cases
The Supreme Court stepped in after four rape cases involving minor girls were reported in Delhi within two weeks. The incidents triggered protests, with students and women’s groups demanding stronger policing and better safety measures.
On September 10, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped and killed after visiting a friend in northwest Delhi’s Swaroop Nagar. Her body was found three days later with eight stab wounds. Four suspects, including three minors, were arrested.
A six-year-old girl was allegedly raped on Deshbandhu Gupta Road on September 14. The accused, Ankit, was arrested.
On September 17, an 11-year-old girl was allegedly raped inside a shop in Sadar Bazaar. Police arrested tailor Maqsood, 56, who allegedly tied her hands and legs before assaulting her.
In the fourth case, a 17-year-old girl was allegedly gangraped in Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji Temple on September 21. Police said three men posing as policemen separated her from her male friend and took her to a secluded spot. The accused — Asif, Hemant and Mukesh — were arrested.
Park Safety Measures Ordered
After the Kalkaji incident, Delhi Lieutenant Governor Taranjit Singh Sandhu on September 23 directed officials to complete a safety audit of all parks in the capital within seven days.
The audit was ordered to assess lighting, security arrangements, police patrolling and cleanliness. The lieutenant governor also instructed authorities to deploy Pink Police personnel near parks to improve surveillance and enhance the sense of security for visitors.
Student Assaulted On NCR Bus
The court also took note of a separate case involving a minor travelling on public transport in the National Capital Region.
A 16-year-old Class 11 student from Uttar Pradesh was allegedly raped by a bus driver and conductor while travelling from Greater Noida to Delhi on August 4.
Police said the girl reached Pari Chowk while travelling towards Noida and accepted a lift during heavy rain. The driver, Kuldeep, and conductor, Sandeep, allegedly assaulted her during the 47-km journey and threatened to kill her.
The two men allegedly abandoned her near the Kashmere Gate Inter-State Bus Terminal in Delhi before fleeing.
