Delhi: HC Demands Police Chief's Presence on Women’s Safety Issue

Following the sexual assault of a 1.5-year-old girl in South Delhi, the concern for women’s safety has again sprung up amongst capital authorities. The HC had earlier noted that the metropolis is "clearly not safe".

Recently, a Delhi High Court bench of Justice S. Ravinder Bhat and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva while hearing a PIL said that either the Police Commissioner or a person similar to his rank like Special Joint Commissioner or Joint Commissioner must be present at the court for the next hearing on December 11.

"The court has to make sure there is effective policing, investigation and preventive or remedial measures in place," the bench said, Zee News reported.

The court issued the directions while hearing a PIL initiated by it in 2012 after the December 16, 2012 gangrape, as per PTI reports.

"I visited several police stations in the capital at night and the strength of police personnel, there was less than 50 per cent as against the requirement"-DCW Chief

Putting the spotlight back on lack of safety for women, the Delhi Commission for Women Chief, Swati Malliwal who was present at the hearing told the court of the rising numbers of crimes against women.

"In past 10 days, three minor girl children have been sexually assaulted. I visited them and their condition was very bad. It was very painful.

I visited several police stations in the capital at night. The strength of police personnel, there was less than 50 per cent as against the requirement. How the law and order will improve if Delhi doesn't have required police force," Maliwal told the court.

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The HC asked Malliwal of the number of rapes that happen every day, to which she replied that a minimum of three rapes happen in a day.

Assisting the court as amicus curiae, Advocate Meera Bhatia suggested that the court should hold Deputy Police Commissioners in the city responsible for the crimes in their area. They are fully aware of the rogue elements in their areas.  "If responsibility will be fixed, crime rate will come down," Bhatia said.

The bench also requested the Central Government to take the issue of recruitment of police personnel to the force in Delhi on "war footing" measures.

Picture credit- Rediff