The Supreme Court opened suo motu proceedings on 28 September after reports of sexual violence across Delhi-NCR raised broader questions about public safety. The bench framed safe access to public spaces as part of Article 21, while making clear that individual criminal responsibility remains for investigation and trial.
Within four weeks, Delhi Police must deploy district teams to identify vulnerable locations, prepare maps shared across police districts, strengthen patrols and audit lighting and CCTV in parks, transport hubs and other public areas. Authorities must repair or add infrastructure and create a trackable response to citizens’ reports of unsafe or poorly lit locations.
The Court also ordered a practical account of whether emergency-response systems, women’s helplines and support services work on the ground, including coverage and response times. The Delhi High Court’s Registrar General must report special-court caseloads and disposal rates; its administrative side must assign the identified cases to a designated fast-track court, with trials to be completed preferably within a year of commencement.
The order shifts scrutiny from announced schemes to operational performance and accountability.