New Delhi. In a landmark ruling, the Supreme Court has pressed for a more assertive, preventative policing model across Delhi after a noticeable rise in sexual‑offence cases in the capital and its peripheries. The justices stressed that law‑enforcement must shift from a reactive stance to one that stops crimes before they occur.
Enhanced on‑the‑ground surveillance required
The bench, comprising Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran, probed the Delhi Police on security lapses in high‑risk localities. They recommended continuous beat patrols, cautioning that police vehicles should keep moving rather than parking at a single point, thereby maintaining a visible deterrent presence.
Authorities were also instructed to chart poorly lit streets, narrow lanes and other potential danger zones. Officers are to liaise with residents, record complaints about inadequate lighting, suspicious behaviour, and any other safety concerns.
Focus on campuses and unauthorised eateries
The Court highlighted the surroundings of colleges, where female students frequently encounter harassment, and drew attention to illegal food stalls that attract anti‑social elements. It urged police to make fuller use of existing intelligence, surveillance tools and the national sexual‑offender database to pinpoint and monitor possible perpetrators.
Push for a preventive policing ethos
Referencing recent high‑profile cases that triggered suo motu action, the judges asked whether warnings about suspected offenders were being acted upon promptly. They emphasized that averting an offence must be the primary objective and called for coordinated efforts between police and other agencies.
The justices also sought information on any dedicated “war room” or monitoring hub that tracks security threats throughout the capital. While insisting that police actions remain within legal bounds, they made it clear that swift, decisive measures should not be delayed when necessary.
These observations arrive as the Supreme Court continues to hear matters related to recent sexual‑crime incidents in Delhi‑NCR.
