'Ensure every woman feels safe even at 10 pm': SC's message to Delhi Police amid rising rape cases

The Supreme Court on Monday asked the Delhi Police and the Centre to take effective steps to ensure women can use public spaces and transport in the national capital without fear, stressing that those involved in sexual crimes must be made to fear the consequences of their actions.

A bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala was hearing a suo motu case concerning a series of alleged rape and sexual assault incidents reported in Delhi-NCR.

“We must ensure every woman in NCT Delhi feels safe, whether walking at 10 pm or travelling by metro or road,” the bench said.

SC asks police to create fear among sexual offenders

In one of its strongest observations during the proceedings, the court said the police must create a deterrent effect among people likely to commit sexual crimes. The bench indicated that those involved in such offences should know that they would face severe consequences.

The court used the phrase "Ab kuch kia toh mar jaenge." while stressing the need for stronger deterrence against sexual offenders.

The observation came as the court examined recent cases, including the alleged gang rape of a minor inside a sleeper bus. The bench also referred to the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park in south Delhi, located around 2 km from a girls' college.

Questioning the Delhi Police about preventive measures, the court asked why proactive steps had not been taken despite concerns being raised about the alleged offenders.

"It has been said people warned you about these people (criminals) even in this unfortunate case," the Supreme Court said.

Recent cases raise questions over public safety

The Supreme Court had taken suo motu cognisance of several incidents on September 28, including the alleged gang rape of a minor in Swaroop Nagar and the alleged sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl inside a bus travelling from Greater Noida to Delhi.

The court had earlier said parks, roads and buses could not become “zones of high risk” and questioned whether adequate lessons had been learnt from the 2012 Nirbhaya case.

It also linked the safety of women in public spaces to the fundamental right to live with dignity and without violence under Article 21 of the Constitution.

Aastha Kunj audit exposes security gaps

The September 21 incident at Aastha Kunj Park triggered protests and renewed scrutiny of security arrangements in Delhi's parks.

A DDA safety audit subsequently found that CCTV cameras were installed in only 16 of its 736 managed parks. As many as 190 parks were classified as high-risk, while 520 needed additional lighting and 323 required more CCTV cameras.

The audit also identified concerns involving boundary security, gates, toilets and abandoned structures. More than 30 locations at Aastha Kunj have since been identified for CCTV installation, with officials flagging its secluded and wooded stretches as surveillance challenges.

Delhi government stresses safety without restrictions

The Supreme Court has criticised what it described as a “systemic failure” by the Delhi government and police and called for an audit of public spaces.

Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta has said women's safety should not mean restricting women and girls from using public spaces. She has instead called for better lighting, CCTV cameras and additional security personnel at vulnerable locations, along with faster action in cases involving women and girls.