New Delhi, September 28: The Supreme Court has taken suo motu cognisance of the alleged gang rape of a 16-year-old girl in a moving bus in the Delhi-NCR region, raising serious concerns over public safety and law enforcement.
A bench comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said repeated reports of rape in Delhi-NCR point to what it described as a systematic failure of law enforcement and public administrative authorities to ensure basic safety in public spaces.
The court also drew parallels with the 2012 Nirbhaya gang rape and murder case, saying the latest incident brought back painful memories of the crime that shocked the country.
The Supreme Court observed that public spaces such as buses and parks cannot become high-risk zones because of inadequate lighting, poor surveillance or a lack of essential administrative facilities.
Minor allegedly assaulted inside moving bus
According to the case details, the 16-year-old girl boarded a sleeper bus in Greater Noida on August 4. She was allegedly gang-raped by the bus driver and conductor while the vehicle was moving.
The girl was later allegedly abandoned near Kashmere Gate in Old Delhi, more than 40 km from where she had boarded the bus.
The two accused have been arrested in connection with the case.
Supreme Court raises public safety concerns
The Supreme Court’s intervention comes amid concerns over the safety of women and children in public spaces across the Delhi-NCR region.
The court’s observations highlighted the need for effective surveillance, adequate lighting and stronger administrative measures to prevent crimes against women and minors.
The case has once again brought attention to questions surrounding public transport safety, law enforcement and the protection of women and children in Delhi-NCR.
