National

Women’s safety in Delhi: Supreme Court asks police for 24-hour watch cells

By /

The Supreme Court on Monday, 5 October 2026, asked the Delhi Police to set up 24-hour monitoring cells to keep constant watch on vulnerable areas, saying women’s safety in Delhi depends on preventing crimes and not only on arresting offenders afterwards.

A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran was hearing a suo motu case on a series of sexual assaults on women and minors in the Delhi-NCR region. It said CCTV cameras achieve little on their own unless someone watches the feeds continuously and police respond quickly.

Patrols near colleges and public spaces

The judges asked the police to step up patrols around schools, colleges, parks and other public places, and to identify illegal eateries where, they said, anti-social elements gather. “There has to be a cell — a 24-hour cell — which keeps monitoring what is happening,” the bench said, as reported by The Hindu.

Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, appearing for the Delhi Police, accepted that there appeared to be some deficiency in patrolling and said several steps had been taken to increase vigilance.

The court referred to the gangrape of a 17-year-old at Astha Kunj Park in south Delhi on 21 September, noting reports that residents had earlier warned police about trouble in the area. It also sought the status of CCTV cameras and lighting at such spots.

Women’s safety in Delhi during the festival season

Justice Pardiwala asked the police to stay more alert during the coming festival holidays and said potential offenders must fear the law. He said every woman in the city should feel safe at 10 or 11 at night, whether she is on the Metro or walking on the street, The Indian Express reported.

Senior advocate Liz Mathew, assisting the court as amicus curiae, said little public information was available on the work of the police’s ‘Shishtachar’ squad, which is meant to tackle harassment of women in public places. The bench said directions must not remain only on paper and urged officers to act on the ground.

What happens next

The court said it would pass a detailed order recording the measures to be taken and give the authorities four weeks to act on its directions. The case will be heard again on 16 November.

Source: The Hindu, The Indian Express

Photo: Ji-Elle / Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0 (resized)

Share

Today’s News 6 Oct 2026 · 30 stories

  1. Himachal kabaddi players to get Rs 1 crore each for Asian Games gold1Himachal kabaddi players to get Rs 1 crore each for Asian Games goldOct 6, 2026
  2. India vs Uruguay: Blue Tigers face Forlan’s side in Kolkata tonight2India vs Uruguay: Blue Tigers face Forlan’s side in Kolkata tonightOct 6, 2026
  3. IndiGo fuel surcharge hike makes flights costlier from 6 October3IndiGo fuel surcharge hike makes flights costlier from 6 OctoberOct 6, 2026
  4. India vs West Indies 1st T20I: Samson or Sooryavanshi in Lucknow?4India vs West Indies 1st T20I: Samson or Sooryavanshi in Lucknow?Oct 6, 2026
  5. Lasalgaon onion prices ease to ₹46 a kg, but retail stays near ₹655Lasalgaon onion prices ease to ₹46 a kg, but retail stays near ₹65Oct 6, 2026
  6. Rajasthan panchayat elections: Congress seeks police probe, BJP readies 3 lakh workers6Rajasthan panchayat elections: Congress seeks police probe, BJP readies 3 lakh workersOct 6, 2026
  7. Gold price today: bullion flat on 6 October after MCX slide to ₹1.49 lakh7Gold price today: bullion flat on 6 October after MCX slide to ₹1.49 lakhOct 6, 2026
  8. CSIR NCL MTS Recruitment 2026: 24 posts open for Class 10 pass candidates8CSIR NCL MTS Recruitment 2026: 24 posts open for Class 10 pass candidatesOct 6, 2026
  9. JDA clears encroachments on Jaipur’s New Sanganer Road under HC order9JDA clears encroachments on Jaipur’s New Sanganer Road under HC orderOct 6, 2026
  10. IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 335 seats in Western Region, apply by 4 November10IOCL Apprentice Recruitment 2026: 335 seats in Western Region, apply by 4 NovemberOct 6, 2026
  11. Ranthambore leopard alerts: Rajasthan trials Kerala-style sensors11Ranthambore leopard alerts: Rajasthan trials Kerala-style sensorsOct 6, 2026
  12. CDAC Recruitment 2026: 951 project posts open, apply by 26 October12CDAC Recruitment 2026: 951 project posts open, apply by 26 OctoberOct 6, 2026
  13. Health groups seek caps on private hospital charges and drug margins13Health groups seek caps on private hospital charges and drug marginsOct 6, 2026
  14. Congress announces Vote Bachao Desh Bachao stir against CEC14Congress announces Vote Bachao Desh Bachao stir against CECOct 6, 2026
  15. Haryana dengue cases rise 58% in 20 days; Gurgaon tops the tally15Haryana dengue cases rise 58% in 20 days; Gurgaon tops the tallyOct 6, 2026
  16. Kerala influenza deaths reach 120 this year, nearly triple 2025’s toll16Kerala influenza deaths reach 120 this year, nearly triple 2025’s tollOct 6, 2026
  17. Baththa box office: Vijay Sethupathi film earns ₹11.35 crore in five days17Baththa box office: Vijay Sethupathi film earns ₹11.35 crore in five daysOct 6, 2026
  18. Digger box office flop: Tom Cruise film opens to million as Verity leads18Digger box office flop: Tom Cruise film opens to $8 million as Verity leadsOct 6, 2026
  19. Supreme Court notice on CEC Gyanesh Kumar; says it never cleared new Form 619Supreme Court notice on CEC Gyanesh Kumar; says it never cleared new Form 6Oct 6, 2026
  20. Film City fire hits Pati Patni Aur Panga 2 set; AICWA seeks FIR20Film City fire hits Pati Patni Aur Panga 2 set; AICWA seeks FIROct 6, 2026
  21. Richa Chadha says 2026 is not yet a landmark year for content cinema21Richa Chadha says 2026 is not yet a landmark year for content cinemaOct 6, 2026
  22. Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha producer alleges negative marketing22Mahakavya Shri Ramayan Katha producer alleges negative marketingOct 6, 2026
  23. Women’s safety in Delhi: Supreme Court asks police for 24-hour watch cells23Women’s safety in Delhi: Supreme Court asks police for 24-hour watch cellsOct 6, 2026 · Reading now
  24. Drishyam 3 box office crosses ₹300 crore worldwide after first Monday24Drishyam 3 box office crosses ₹300 crore worldwide after first MondayOct 6, 2026
  25. Supreme Court seeks Centre’s plan for Central Secretariat Library move25Supreme Court seeks Centre’s plan for Central Secretariat Library moveOct 6, 2026
  26. India Mobile Congress 2026 opens 7 October at Yashobhoomi26India Mobile Congress 2026 opens 7 October at YashobhoomiOct 6, 2026
  27. TRAI won’t act on tariff ‘guesswork’, insists on voice-only plans27TRAI won’t act on tariff ‘guesswork’, insists on voice-only plansOct 6, 2026
  28. Vivo V80 and X Fold 6 headline Vivo’s India launch event today28Vivo V80 and X Fold 6 headline Vivo’s India launch event todayOct 6, 2026
  29. BigEndian gets ₹130 crore to build an India-made AI vision chip29BigEndian gets ₹130 crore to build an India-made AI vision chipOct 6, 2026
  30. Karnataka AI training to expand to government schools from Class 630Karnataka AI training to expand to government schools from Class 6Oct 6, 2026

Leave a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Scroll to Top