SC Seeks Tighter Measures For Safety After Delhi Rape Cases, Pg12

Key Highlights:

• The Supreme Court ordered stricter safety measures in Delhi to curb sexual offenses.
• Directives include enhanced patrolling around educational institutions and stringent verification of public transport drivers.
• The Chief Secretary and Delhi Police Commissioner are held personally accountable for compliance.
• The court took suo motu cognisance of a spate of rape cases in Delhi-NCR on September 28.
• Authorities are required to file district-wise status reports by November 6, with the next hearing on November 16.

Detailed Insights:

• A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran issued the comprehensive directives.
• The court questioned the effectiveness of existing protocols, including anti-eve-teasing squads, in preventing recurrent offenses.
• Measures also include real-time monitoring of vehicle-tracking and SOS systems, and action against illegal liquor establishments.
• The directives aim to strengthen immediate crime-prevention and emergency-response mechanisms in the capital.
• The court emphasized preventive policing, referencing the Broken Windows theory to highlight the impact of minor lapses on public safety.
• Verification is mandated for drivers and assistants of all public transport, including app-based aggregators like Ola, Uber, and Rapido.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Suo motu cognisance: A court taking notice of a matter on its own initiative, without a formal petition from any party.
• Broken Windows theory: A criminological theory suggesting that visible signs of crime and disorder encourage further serious crime.
• NCT of Delhi: The official designation for the National Capital Territory of Delhi, encompassing the capital city and surrounding areas.