India’s Supreme Court said recent rape cases in Delhi and nearby districts reflected a “failure of law enforcement,” local media reported, and directed its administration to file a public-interest petition for the court to pursue accountability.
Last week, hundreds of students protested in Delhi for better women’s safety after a teenager said she was gang-raped by three men in a city park. Local media also reported that a 17-year-old was allegedly gang-raped last month on a moving bus by its driver and conductor.
The court said parks, buses and other public spaces must not become “high-risk” zones amid concerns about lighting, surveillance and basic facilities, Live Law reported. Delhi Chief Minister Rekha Gupta acknowledged lapses and vowed to improve security; police said they had increased visible policing and intensified patrols. The National Crime Records Bureau says more than 80 rapes are reported to police each day across India.
