‘Do not yield to pressure from human rights groups while taking firm action’

New Delhi: The Supreme Court (SC) has told the Delhi Police to create a fear among those prone to committing sexual crimes, saying offenders must know that they would face severe consequences for such acts.
Hearing a batch of matters relating to recent rape cases in Delhi and surrounding areas, including the gang-rape of a minor on a sleeper bus, the Court yesterday directed the Police to focus first on colleges where girl students are being harassed by hooligans.
The Court also asked the Police to act against thousands of illegal eateries across Delhi, which it said had become gathering places for anti-social elements, with liquor being consumed at several such establishments.
In one of its strongest observations since taking up the cases on its own, the Court said: “Unless and until you create that fear in the minds of unsocial elements, you will not be able to prevent such crimes.”
Justice J.B. Pardiwala observed that unless criminals were made to realise that committing such heinous acts could cost them their lives, it would not be possible to curb such offences.
The Bench directed the Delhi Police to act firmly and without yielding to pressure from human rights organisations. It observed that while some organisations invoke Article 21, which guarantees the right to life, to oppose harsh measures, authorities cannot allow such arguments to come in the way of dealing with perpetrators of brutal crimes.
“We are pressing you to pay attention to every aspect. In the next four weeks, such incidents must not recur. Focus on colleges, where miscreants continuously harass female students,” the Bench said.
Justice Pardiwala also referred to the 2012 Nirbhaya case, observing that the convicts had eaten and consumed alcohol before committing the crime. He urged the Police to identify places where such elements gather and take action.