Growing sexual assault cases in Delhi: SC draws parallel to 2012 Nirbhaya gangrape

Supreme Court of India (file photo)NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Monday expressed “anguish and deep concern” over recent rape cases in Delhi-NCR and said such incidents point to a systematic failure of law enforcement and public administrative authorities to ensure basic public safety. The court drew a parallel with the 2012 Nirbhaya case and took suo motu cognisance of the issue.A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice K Vinod Chandran said public spaces such as parks and buses cannot become high-risk areas because of poor illumination, inadequate surveillance or lack of other basic facilities, as per a report by PTI news agency.What led to the SC taking note of the Delhi incidents?In a recent incident, a 16 year old girl who had boarded a sleeper bus in Greater Noida was allegedly gang raped by the bus conductor and driver and abandoned near Kashmere Gate in Old Delhi, more than 40 km away. The incident took place on August 4 and the two accused have been arrested.The bench said such cases “starkly underline a systematic failure” on the part of law enforcement and public administrative authorities to guarantee basic public safety.The court's observations came as it took suo motu cognisance of the issue.