SC takes suo motu cognisance of Delhi-NCR minor’s gang-rape

The Supreme Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of the alleged gang-rape of a minor in a moving bus in Delhi-NCR. The decision was taken after observing that such incidents point to a systematic failure of law enforcement and public authorities to ensure basic public safety.

A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and K Vinod Chandran said the reports of rape cases in Delhi-NCR brought back painful memories of the 2012 Nirbhaya case.

"The reports of rape cases in Delhi-NCR starkly underline a systematic failure on the part of the law enforcement and the public administrative authorities to guarantee basic public safety," the bench said.


According to the court, public spaces such as parks and buses cannot be allowed to become high-risk zones due to inadequate lighting, surveillance and other administrative facilities.

The case relates to a 16-year-old girl who allegedly boarded a sleeper bus in Greater Noida on August 4 and was allegedly gang-raped by the conductor and driver. She was later abandoned near Kashmere Gate, more than 40 km away in Old Delhi. The two accused have been arrested.

The incident has brought back memories of the 2012 gang-rape and murder in Delhi that came to be known as the Nirbhaya case.

(With PTI inputs)