The Delhi High Court today directed the city government and police to inform it whether the measures claimed to be implemented by them to curb crimes against women are producing any results.
"We are very very serious about ensuring safety of women. If you can't make them feel safe in the national capital, then how will you protect women in the countryside?" a bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Siddharth Mridul posed.
It made the observation after Delhi State Legal Services Authority (DSLSA) told the court that despite implementation of the government and police' measures in 44 red-flagged areas in eight districts of the capital, there is no reduction in the rate of crimes against women.
DSLSA also submitted that implementation of the measures has lead to increase in reporting of such crimes.
Delhi government on its part said that DSLSA was to submit a final report as per the court's earlier order.
The bench, however, was not pleased by the submissions, saying, "We feel they are not taking it seriously. They appear to be passing on the buck to DSLSA."
"For 15 years, Delhi police has been saying that crime rate has increased due to increased reporting and they will continue to say so," it said and added "crimes will increase because your measures are ineffective".
The bench directed Delhi government and Delhi police to file affidavits "indicating whether measures implemented by them after our order of April 16, 2014, with respect to the 44 police stations have produced any results."
"Data with respect to these areas before and after implementation of the measures be also made available before the next date," the court said and listed the matter for next hearing on September 24.
Meanwhile, advocate Gaurav Kumar Bansal, appearing for petitioner Nandita Dhar. Whose petition against eve-teasing was being heard by the court, submitted that the government and police are including old data, prior to passing of April 16 order, in their reports.
