Dark Parks, Dead CCTVs, No Excuses: Supreme Court Gives Delhi 4 Weeks To Fix Public Safety

The Supreme Court has ordered Delhi Police and civic bodies to secure public spaces in Delhi-NCR within four weeks. Directions include district-wise vulnerability mapping, patrolling at parks, and CCTV and lighting audits of parks and transport hubs. Citizen complaints must be acted on, tinted-film vehicles impounded, and the Delhi High Court must report on Fast Track Courts. Trials should end within a year. The bench is examining institutional failures. Next hearing: October 5, 2026.

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The Supreme Court on Monday (September 28) directed Delhi Police and civic authorities to make public spaces in Delhi-NCR safer. The orders include a survey of vulnerable areas, patrolling at parks, and a lighting and CCTV audit, all within four weeks.

A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran passed the directions in a suo motu case, In Re: Recent Rape Incidents in Delhi NCR, registered after a series of sexual offences against minor girls and women.

The bench said public spaces cannot become “zones of high risk” due to poor lighting, weak surveillance or lax patrolling.

Survey and Vulnerability Map

The Delhi Police Commissioner must form teams for each police district, led by an officer not below the rank of DSP. They will inspect parks, isolated stretches, transport hubs, markets and educational zones, using NCRB data and past complaints. A district-wise vulnerability map must be shared among neighbouring police stations.

Patrolling, Lights and CCTV

Patrolling must be deployed at all identified parks and vulnerable areas at all times, especially in the evening and early morning, with a designated officer for each location. Non-working CCTV cameras and lights must be repaired, and more installed where needed. Metro stations, bus stops and railway stations will get a similar audit.

Police must also run mobile check-posts and strictly enforce the Avishek Goenka ruling by impounding vehicles with tinted window films.

Citizens' Complaints Count

Complaints on the CM Jan Sunwai Portal about dark stretches or missing cameras must be verified and acted upon within a fixed time, and complainants must be able to track them.

Fast Track Courts and Helplines

The Delhi High Court Registrar General must file an affidavit within four weeks on Fast Track Special Courts and POCSO courts, covering functional courts, pending cases and disposal rates. Cases from these incidents go to a designated Fast Track Court, with trial preferably within one year.

Authorities must also file a status report on Mission Shakti, ERSS 112, Women Helpline 181 and similar systems, and publicise helplines.

The Court reminded the media to practise “responsible, empathetic, and restrained journalism” and not reveal victims’ identities, citing Section 72 of the BNS and Section 23 of the POCSO Act.

Background

The directions follow the alleged gang rape of a 17-year-old at Aastha Kunj Park, the alleged gang rape and murder of a teenage girl in Swaroop Nagar, and the alleged assault of a minor in a moving sleeper bus that travelled over 47 km from Greater Noida to Delhi unchecked. The bench is examining institutional failures, not individual guilt.

Notice was issued to the Delhi Chief Secretary, the Police Commissioner and the High Court Registrar General. Senior Advocate Liz Mathew is Amicus Curiae. The matter will be heard next on October 5, 2026.

Case: In Re: Recent Rape Incidents in Delhi NCR (Supreme Court, Justices JB Pardiwala & K Vinod Chandran)