The Supreme Court has directed Delhi authorities to increase police patrolling around schools, colleges, universities and coaching centres, while ordering stricter verification of drivers operating taxis, autos, buses and app-based services such as Ola, Uber and Rapido. The directions follow recent rape incidents in Delhi-NCR and place the Delhi chief secretary and police commissioner under direct scrutiny for implementation.
A bench of Justices JB Pardiwala and KV Viswanathan said that issuing directions alone would not be sufficient and that their impact must be visible on the ground. The court ordered increased beat patrolling, with particular attention to educational institutions and areas already identified as vulnerable.
The driver verification requirements cover government and private buses, cabs, taxis and autorickshaws, including vehicles connected to app-based platforms. Only drivers who have been registered and verified are to be allowed to operate these vehicles. Drivers will also have to display their names and photographs so passengers can identify them and report instances in which a different person is driving.
The court further directed authorities to prevent vehicle owners or operators from handing vehicles to unverified drivers or allowing anyone other than the designated driver to operate them. Regular and surprise inspections at vehicle-checking centres have also been ordered. Depending on the violation, authorities may take action against drivers and seize vehicles.
The directions extend beyond driver checks to the systems passengers rely on during emergencies. The court ordered regular and surprise testing of vehicle-tracking systems and emergency SOS arrangements. Authorities have also been asked to examine how these systems can be connected to the police emergency response mechanism.
Passengers must be informed about what happens after an SOS alert is activated, which agency or official is responsible for responding and how quickly assistance is expected to arrive. The court also stressed the need to address malfunctioning CCTV cameras, broken street lights and dark routes, linking transport safety to the condition and monitoring of public spaces.
The Supreme Court has sought details of the Delhi Police’s activities under its ‘Shishtachar Squad’. The police commissioner must submit weekly reports for the previous three months, along with a consolidated assessment of the squads’ actions. The court has also sought the implementation status of ‘Operation Nirbhik’ and ‘Nazuk’, initiatives intended to encourage students to report sexual crimes and harassment.
The Delhi administration and police must submit district-wise compliance reports covering both earlier and newly issued directions by 6 November. The case is scheduled for its next hearing on 16 November. The court has warned that failure to implement the directions seriously could make the Delhi chief secretary and police commissioner personally accountable.
