Supreme Court Takes Suo Motu Action on Crimes Against Women, Children in Delhi-NCR
The Supreme Court's Division Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran initiated suo motu proceedings in response to a series of crimes against women and children across Delhi-NCR. The Court emphasised that the right to live with dignity, free from violence, is guaranteed under Article 21, and that public spaces cannot remain zones of high risk due to inadequate illumination, poor surveillance, or lax patrolling.
The authorities have been directed to submit comprehensive status reports on existing safety mechanisms and complete vulnerability mapping, strengthen patrolling, conduct lighting and CCTV audits, utilise grievance mechanisms, and intensify vehicular inspections within 4 weeks. The Court sought details on Fast Track Special Courts and Exclusive POCSO Courts, and appointed Senior Counsel Liz Mathew as Amicus Curiae.
The action follows recent incidents including alleged gang rapes in Delhi and sexual harassment at Lady Shri Ram College. The Court noted parallels to the 2012 Nirbhaya case, questioning whether law enforcement mechanisms have made meaningful progress in a decade.
