Set up 24-hour monitoring cells to prevent sex crimes, Supreme Court tells Delhi Police

The Supreme Court said there is a need to instill fear in the minds of goons committing crimes against women while taking a suo motu hearing on the Delhi-NCR rape case. File | Photo Credit: Deepika Rajesh

The Supreme Court on Monday (October 5, 2026) emphasized the need to take preventive measures against sex crimes and asked the Delhi Police to set up 24-hour monitoring cells for round-the-clock surveillance of vulnerable areas. The court also asked the police to strengthen patrolling especially around educational institutions and public spaces.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran observed that mere installation of CCTV cameras in public areas would serve little purpose without round-the-clock monitoring to detect suspicious activity and enable quick police response.

“When we talk about surveillance through CCTV cameras, how much will they help curb crimes if there is no round-the-clock surveillance in various war rooms? Cameras will help you nab the culprit, but how do you prevent such crimes? There must be a cell – a 24-hour cell – which is constantly monitoring what is happening,” the Bench observed.

The court was hearing a suo motu case relating to a series of incidents of sexual assault of minors and women in the National Capital Region of Delhi. It has previously stated that it intends to establish the responsibilities of authorities charged with preventing crime and protecting vulnerable people.

“Identify Vulnerable Pockets”

The bench also emphasized the need to intensify patrolling around educational institutions and crack down on illegal restaurants across the capital frequented by miscreants.

“Target educational institutions, colleges, where there are goons (who) keep harassing young women students. We are also told that there are hundreds of illegal restaurants in NCT (National Capital Territory) of Delhi where all the anti-social elements meet. Even liquor is served there. Start identifying all those vulnerable pockets,” the Bench said.

Appearing for the Delhi Police, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta acknowledged that there appeared to be lapses in police patrols.

“Prima facie there appears to be some deficiencies in the patrol service,” he said.

Security concerns were flagged earlier

The bench also pointed to reports that even before the gangrape of the 17-year-old in New Delhi’s Astha Kunj Park near Lady Shri Ram College, residents of the area had repeatedly reported security concerns to the police in the locality, but their concerns remained unaddressed.

“It was reported that before this unfortunate incident took place, the residents of the area had alerted you that there were some anti-social elements who were bothering… No one paid attention to it. That is why personal interaction with the society is important. You are the protector,” the Bench said while addressing the senior police officers present in the court.

Justice Pardiwala also emphasized the need to instill fear of the law in potential offenders as a deterrent against such crimes. Referring to the upcoming festival holidays, he asked the Delhi Police to increase vigilance to ensure that such incidents do not recur.

“You have to create fear, fear in the mind of a person who is prone to commit such crimes… Unless and until you create that fear, that fear in the minds of those anti-social elements, you will not be able to prevent the commission of such crimes,” he said.

“Directive only on paper”

Senior advocate Liz Mathew, who is assisting the court as amicus curiae, said that despite the existence of the Delhi Police’s ‘Shishtachar’ unit, which is aimed at preventing sexual harassment of women in public spaces, little information was publicly available about its functioning or the actions it takes.

The Bench emphasized that issuing guidelines alone would not be enough if they were not reflected in practice.

“Officers, many such directives are only on paper, but the most important thing is to work at the grassroots level. Just putting everything on paper will not help. You have to take action. If you have to be a little stricter, tougher, don’t hesitate,” Bench said.

Mr. Mehta assured the court that several steps have been taken to increase vigilance.

Accordingly, the Bench said it would pass an order recording the action to be taken and posted the matter for further hearing on November 16.

Published – 05 Oct 2026 17:17 IST