Supreme Court Tells Delhi Police: ‘Need to Create Fear in Minds of Anti-Social Elements’ Amid Rising Rape Cases

October 5, 2026

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday stressed the need for stronger preventive policing in Delhi amid concerns over recent rape cases, telling the Delhi Police that there must be a fear of consequences among people who are prone to committing crimes.

A Bench of Justice J.B. Pardiwala and Justice K. Vinod Chandran was hearing a suo motu case concerning recent sexual offences in Delhi-NCR and questioned the authorities about the effectiveness of existing safety and surveillance measures.

The Court asked Delhi Police whether there was a mechanism to continuously monitor vulnerable areas and ensure a quick response to suspicious activity and crimes.

“You need to create a fear in the mind of a man who is prone to commit a crime. Unless there is a fear of consequences, you will not be able to prevent it,” Justice Pardiwala said.

Supreme Court questions CCTV monitoring, patrolling

The Bench questioned how useful CCTV cameras would be if there was no continuous monitoring through dedicated control or war rooms.

The Court also asked Delhi Police about its beat-patrolling arrangements and the locations where police vans remain stationed, stressing the need for visible and effective policing in vulnerable areas.

The Bench referred to complaints about anti-social elements creating a nuisance in certain areas and asked whether police personnel should engage more directly with residents to understand local safety concerns.

The Court also raised concerns about illegal eateries where anti-social elements allegedly gather and asked whether authorities should focus on such locations where unlawful activities may take place.

Court stresses women’s safety in Delhi

The Supreme Court emphasised that women in Delhi should be able to move around the national capital without fear, including at night and while travelling by public transport.

The hearing is part of the Court’s suo motu proceedings concerning a series of reported sexual offences against women and minor girls in Delhi-NCR. The Court has previously expressed concern over systemic gaps in law enforcement, surveillance, lighting and police response.

The Bench also referred to the national database of sexual offenders maintained by the National Crime Records Bureau and stressed the need to strengthen follow-up action involving such offenders.

Supreme Court asks police to focus on prevention

The Court made it clear that merely having safety measures on paper would not be enough and stressed that preventive mechanisms must actually function on the ground.

Justice Pardiwala also told the police not to hesitate in taking strict action when required, while noting that the broader objective was to prevent crimes such as rape.

The proceedings are focused on systemic and preventive measures rather than determining the guilt or innocence of accused persons in individual cases.