Women Safety: High Court Seeks Delhi Govt’s Stand On Putting Posters On Buses To Create Awareness Against Eve-Teasing

The Delhi High Court has sought stand of the Delhi Government on placing posters or hoardings in buses and other public transport in the national capital for creating awareness against eve-teasing in order to strengthen women safety.

A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula allowed the Delhi Government’s request and granted its counsel six weeks’ time to seek instructions on the said aspect.

The bench was hearing a suo motu public interest litigation initiated in the year 2012 concerning the issue of safety and security of women in the national capital in the aftermath of Nirbhaya gang-rape case.

Amicus Curiae Advocate Meera Bhatia submitted that the Delhi Government should consider placing such posters mentioning that eve-teasing is a serious and punishable offence as it would certainly act as a deterrent.

The Delhi Government’s counsel also told court that the installation of “push-to-talk or panic button” on CCTV poles is under active consideration by Delhi Police’s Technology Division).

“She prays for six weeks’ time in the matter. Six weeks’ time is granted to her,” the court said.

On the other hand, the counsel appearing for Bharat Electronics Limited also informed court that 6630 CCTV cameras have already been installed in various vulnerable areas in the national capital and the same are functioning.

The matter will now be heard on December 19.

In August, the Delhi Police had told court that the installed CCTV cameras are being monitored in five master control rooms.

The Delhi Police’s counsel had also sought time from the court to consider the proposal of installing the said panic buttons on poles and said that the authorities will certainly consider the same.

The bench had earlier directed the Delhi Police to take immediate steps to install CCTV cameras in vulnerable areas of the national capital. It had observed that the measure will help to curb crime against women and ensure their security.