The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of a series of recent rape and sexual assault cases in Delhi-NCR, raising serious concerns over public safety, policing and the functioning of law-enforcement agencies.
A Bench comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran directed the court registry to register a suo motu public interest litigation to examine the issue. The court’s intervention follows several recent cases, including the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Delhi’s Kalkaji Temple and the alleged sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus.
The Bench said the incidents pointed to concerns over the ability of law-enforcement and public authorities to ensure basic safety in public spaces. It specifically flagged inadequate lighting, poor surveillance and a lack of effective patrolling as factors that can turn places such as parks, roads and public transport into high-risk areas.
The court also referred to the 2012 Nirbhaya case, observing that the recent incidents raise questions about whether systemic law-enforcement mechanisms have made meaningful progress over the years.
The Aastha Kunj Park case has brought particular attention to security arrangements in public spaces. The 17-year-old victim was allegedly assaulted by three men who posed as police officers. All three accused were subsequently arrested, according to reports. Concerns have since been raised over lighting, surveillance and patrolling in parts of the park.
The Supreme Court also took note of the alleged assault of a minor on a sleeper bus travelling from Greater Noida towards Delhi. The bus reportedly travelled around 47 kilometres before reaching the capital, with the accused allegedly assaulting the girl during the journey. Two accused have been arrested in connection with the case.
The Bench stressed that the right to live with dignity and without fear of violence forms part of the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution. It said public spaces cannot be allowed to become unsafe because of preventable administrative shortcomings.
The court also emphasised accountability, stating that expressions of concern or solidarity from public authorities are not sufficient. It called for a measurable response and responsibility to be fixed on authorities entrusted with crime prevention, maintenance of public order and protection of vulnerable people.
The suo motu proceedings are expected to examine broader issues surrounding policing, beat patrolling, lighting, CCTV surveillance and safety measures in public spaces across Delhi-NCR. The court’s intervention could also bring greater scrutiny of how authorities identify and address vulnerable locations before crimes occur.
The matter will now be taken up as a formal suo motu case, with the Supreme Court examining the institutional and administrative measures required to strengthen public safety in the national capital region.
