Taking note of the spate of violence against Africans in the capital, a division bench comprising Justice BD Ahmed and Justice RK Gauba remarked that the crime against women has not come down and "now Delhi is becoming racist too."

COMMERCIAL BREAK
SCROLL TO CONTINUE READING

"There is no let up in crime against women. Now, Delhi is becoming racist too. I don't know what has happened to the city. We have to take stringent steps," the court said while hearing a public interest litigation (PIL) on women's safety that was initiated after the December 16, 2012 gang-rape in the capital.

As the court heard pleas on the matter, additional solicitor general Sanjay Jain representing the Centre responded that steps have been taken to ensure women's safety and security. Jain told the court that the number of police helplines have been increased from 60 to 100 and the helpline number dedicated to women was also increased from 4 to 10.

Taking note of the growing number of helplines, the court asked the Centre the minimum and maximum response time it takes the police once it receives a complaint on the helpline - 100. The court has directed the Delhi Police to file an affidavit on this matter. "In New York, it takes the police three minutes on an average to reach the spot of the incident, while in Delhi it takes about 10-15 minutes," the court said and further directed the police to submit an accurate time on this matter.

In an affidavit filed by the Delhi Police, the Centre reported that, "370 additional police vans have been sanctioned and the Delhi police is maintaining a PCR fleet of 1000. 325 vulnerable areas identified by Delhi police that are being covered by patrolling."

The affidavit further stated that of the 85 identified locations, Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have been installed in 78 locations. "CCTVs are being installed in the DTC buses (in the first phase 200 buses have been covered) and the Delhi government has made it mandatory to install GPS in public service vehicles. All civic agencies have initiated actions to install CCTV cameras in areas of their jurisdiction."

The Centre further said that several other measures have been taken to ensure that no crime against women goes unreported.

Taking a keen interest in the quality of investigation, the court suggested, "Why doesn't forensic team reach directly to crime scene? This will save your (police) time and quality of investigation would be increased." The Centre and the Delhi government have been directed to file a response on the feasibility of this option, along with reports on quality of criminal investigation, and forensic training given to police crime teams before the next date of hearing on July 27.

The Delhi government was asked to consider the inclusion of forensic pathologists in city's hospitals and file a status report on the same. The health ministry and All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS) have also been asked to file similar status reports.

On recruitment, the Centre said tha tit was committed to creating addition space in the force subject to financial requirements and functional justification of the posts.

The finance ministry has agreed to create 4,227 posts for the proposal where law and order functions of crime and investigation would be separate. The ministry of home affairs would set up a high level committee to review the existing set-up of the Delhi Police and analyze the option of advancement of technology as opposed to increasing manpower.

"The report of this high level committee is yet to be finalized. The matter for creation of additional posts would be processed once this report is submitted to the finance ministry. Till then, the department of expenditure has no specific timelines for the proposals and plan with regard to improving policing in Delhi," stated an affidavit filed by finance ministry.