Supreme Court slams rising sexual assault cases in Delhi and calls them painful parallel to Nirbhaya

Court Action

The Supreme Court took suo motu notice on Monday of rising sexual assault cases against women and minors in the Delhi region. A bench of justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran asked the Delhi Police to give a response. The court pointed out that public places like roads, parks, and buses must not become high-risk zones due to poor safety.

Specific Cases

The judges looked at recent news reports about specific crimes. These include the rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj park near Lady Sri Ram College, a gang-rape of a minor in Swaroop Nagar, and the sexual assault of another minor inside a bus running from Greater Noida to Delhi.

Court Remarks

The bench expressed serious concern over these repeated crimes against minors. The judges stated that one cannot help but draw a painful parallel to the 2012 Nirbhaya case and wonder if any lessons were learned. They noted that Article 21 of the Constitution guarantees the right to live with dignity and free from violence.

Security Lapses

The court criticized authorities over the Aastha Kunj park incident. Students of Lady Sri Ram College had previously made complaints about sexual harassment that went ignored, and these warnings failed to bring better security measures or advanced cameras.

Context

Suo motu notice means a court takes up a matter on its own without waiting for an official petition or complaint. Courts often use this power when media reports highlight major issues concerning public safety and fundamental rights.