‘Create Fear Among Criminals’: SC Says Women Must Feel Safe Travelling At 11 PM In Delhi-NCR
Justice Pardiwala said authorities must create "fright in the minds of the criminals" so that they fear severe consequences for committing such crimes.
By Sakshi
New Delhi, October 5: The Supreme Court on Monday emphasised the need for stronger measures to prevent crimes against women, saying authorities must create an environment where women can travel safely even at 11 pm. A bench headed by Justice JB Pardiwala stressed the need to instill fear among criminals and anti-social elements to ensure women's safety.
The bench, also comprising Justice K Vinod Chandran, was hearing a suo motu case titled In Re: Recent Rape Incidents in Delhi-NCR, initiated after news reports of crimes against minor girls and women across the Delhi-National Capital Region (NCR). The court observed that "rape is something which is not at all acceptable to any society".
"We have to work together. We must ensure that every woman in Delhi-NCR should feel safe even at 11 pm, whether travelling on the roads or the metro," the bench observed, as reported by news agency PTI.
‘What Is Important Is To Prevent A Crime’
"What is important is to prevent a crime, not what you do after a crime is committed," the court said, stressing that the police must create fear among goons and anti-social elements who may be prone to committing such offences.
The court also said systemic deficiencies must not create an environment that facilitates crime. "Deficiencies, if any, should not facilitate commission of crime," the bench said, reiterating that prevention must remain the priority rather than action taken after an offence has occurred.
SC Calls For Stronger Deterrence Against Criminals
The Supreme Court further stressed the need for a strong deterrent against potential offenders. Justice Pardiwala said authorities must create "fright in the minds of the criminals" so that they fear severe consequences for committing such crimes. "You have to instil dread and terror in the minds of a man who is likely to commit such a crime," the judge said.
The bench also referred to issues that could arise under Article 21 of the Constitution, which guarantees the right to life and personal liberty, and directed the Delhi Police to adopt a tough approach towards those accused of heinous crimes against women. The court observed that criticism from human rights groups should not prevent authorities from taking stringent action against those accused of rape and other serious offences.
SC Flags Systemic Failure In Delhi-NCR
The apex court had on September 28 taken suo motu cognisance of news reports concerning crimes against minor girls and women across the Delhi-NCR, observing that the incidents pointed to a systematic failure of law enforcement authorities.
The court took cognisance of the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park in Delhi, the gang rape and murder of a teenage girl in the Swaroop Nagar area, and the sexual assault of a minor girl inside a moving sleeper bus. The bus travelled more than 47 km from Greater Noida to Delhi without being intercepted by law enforcement agencies.
