India’s Supreme Court on Monday emphasized the need for enhanced accountability following a series of rape incidents reported in New Delhi and its surrounding areas. The court highlighted these cases as evidence of significant shortcomings within law enforcement agencies.
This call for action came in the wake of widespread protests by hundreds of students in the capital last week, who demanded more robust measures to ensure women’s safety. The demonstrations followed allegations that a teenage girl was gang-raped by three men in a local park.
Additionally, reports surfaced of a 17-year-old girl who was allegedly gang-raped last month while traveling on a bus, with the driver and conductor implicated in the case. These incidents evoke memories of the notorious 2012 Delhi gang rape and murder, known as the Nirbhaya case, where a 23-year-old physiotherapy student was brutally assaulted on a moving bus in South Delhi.
The Supreme Court stressed that public spaces such as parks and buses must not become dangerous due to poor lighting, lack of surveillance, or insufficient basic facilities. It underscored the importance of establishing clear accountability and instructed its administration to file a public interest petition to enable the court to actively address the issue.
Sexual violence remains a pervasive problem across India, with the National Crime Records Bureau reporting over 80 rape cases daily. In response to the recent incidents, Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta acknowledged lapses in security and pledged to enhance protective measures. Meanwhile, Delhi Police announced an increase in visible policing and intensified patrolling efforts to improve safety.
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