The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of recent rape and sexual assault cases reported in Delhi-NCR. The court referred to the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Kalkaji and the alleged sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus.Key HighlightsThe Supreme Court took suo motu cognisance of recent cases.The bench referred to incidents involving minors in Delhi-NCR.The court raised concerns about safety in public places.It said accountability must be fixed for failures in public safety.Supreme Court Takes Up Delhi-NCR CasesA bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran took note of recent reports of sexual offences in the National Capital Region.The court referred to the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old girl at Aastha Kunj Park near Delhi's Kalkaji area. Police had arrested three accused in that case after examining CCTV footage and other evidence.The bench also referred to the alleged sexual assault of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus. The bus reportedly travelled from Greater Noida towards Delhi before the case came to light.The court said these cases raise serious questions about safety in public places.Court Raises Public Safety ConcernsThe Supreme Court said places such as parks, roads and buses must remain safe for people.The bench also mentioned problems such as poor lighting, weak surveillance and lack of proper patrolling.“Public spaces, including roads, parks, buses, metro stations, subways, cannot be permitted to become zones of high risk.”The court said the right to live with dignity and without fear of violence is linked to the fundamental right to life under Article 21 of the Constitution.Court Refers to 2012 Nirbhaya CaseDuring the hearing, the bench referred to the 2012 Nirbhaya case. The judges said the recent incidents raised questions about whether enough lessons had been learned since then.“One cannot help but draw painful parallels to the Nirbhaya incident of 2012.”The court's remarks came while examining the reported incidents and wider concerns about public safety in Delhi-NCR.Accountability Becomes Key IssueThe Supreme Court said that statements expressing concern or support after such incidents are not enough.The bench said authorities responsible for preventing crime and maintaining public order must be held accountable when there are failures.“Expressions of solidarity devoid of accountability fall short of answering the larger institutional question.”The court has directed that a suo motu case be registered to examine the issue.Recent Cases Under FocusThe Kalkaji case has already led to arrests. Delhi Police arrested three men in connection with the alleged assault of the 17-year-old girl. The Delhi Commission for Women had also taken suo motu cognisance and sought a report from police.Police have also recorded statements from witnesses in the case. According to reports, 12 witnesses had given statements to investigators by September 25.The Supreme Court's latest action brings the wider issue of public safety in Delhi-NCR before the country's top court.The proceedings will now examine the reported incidents and the steps taken by authorities to prevent such crimes and improve safety in public spaces.Also Read : Fake Drug Case: SIT Arrests Prime Accused Prashanth Ranjan Babu at Bengaluru Airport
