Supreme Court on Monday asked Delhi Police to be harsh while dealing with crimes against women to instil fear in the minds of criminals amid rising concerns over rape cases in the capital.
While hearing a suo motu case, initiated over the increasing rape cases in Delhi, Justice JB Pardiwala said, "Unless you create such fright in the minds of the criminals ki ab kuch kiya toh mar jayengey (if we commit such a crime we will die), you will not be able to prevent such crimes."
"You need to create a fright, a fear in the mind of a man who is prone to commit such an offence", the judge said. Justice Pardiwala also asked the police to be considerate of groups that cite Article 21 (Right to Life) to oppose mistreatment of criminals.
The Court said the authorities can be inconsiderate of such groups and can be very harsh in cracking down on dastardly criminals who commit rape. The apex court also emphasised the need to create an atmosphere of safety so that women can feel safe even at 10 PM.
"We must ensure every woman in NCT Delhi feels safe, whether walking at 10 PM or travelling by metro or road," the SC bench said.
The Supreme Court also questioned the Delhi Police over proactive actions that are required, citing a gang rape at a park in Delhi's Kalkaji, about two km from the victim's college.
"It has been said people warned you about these people (criminals) even in this unfortunate case," a Supreme Court bench led by Justice JB Pardiwala said.
"How do you prevent such crimes? We want to make sure such crimes are stopped. We can make a difference if we work together," Justice Pardiwala observed. The court also sought information from the Delhi Police on creating a war room to tackle the issue in the capital.