Not doing enough to ensure safety of women in Delhi: HC to Centre

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said the steps taken by Centre to improve the security situation in the Capital were insufficient.

The Delhi High Court on Thursday said the steps taken by Centre to improve the security situation in the Capital were insufficient.

People protesting against crime against women in Delhi (AP/file)

It criticised the government for failing to come up with “concrete proposals” to deal with the issue.

A bench of Justice BD Ahmed and Justice Sanjeev Sachdeva remarked: “This is not sufficient. Do not force us to make statements. Where are your concrete proposals?”

The bench also pulled up the Delhi government, saying “nobody was serious” despite the fact that thousands of samples were pending in forensic science laboratories due to which investigation in criminal cases were hampered.

“According to Delhi Police, approximately 11,000 samples are pending in the forensic labs and this will hamper so many criminal probes. Nobody is serious about it. Both governments (Centre and Delhi) can say let law of ‘jungle’ prevail here and everybody can do whatever they want,” it said.

The court had earlier directed the Centre to increase manpower in police.

The Centre’s counsel said the finance ministry had to take a call as it would provide funds. He said a committee formed to look into the matter would submit its report soon.

“How long we will wait? Why do such decisions take so long? We cannot force you, we can only tell you. If you do not have the funds then tell us, we will close the matter,” the bench said posting the matter till May 27.