The Delhi High Court, marking eleven years since the tragic Nirbhaya rape incident on a moving bus, has inquired today about the possibility of enhancing safety measures for women on DTC buses. They've sought information from the Delhi government regarding the practicality of installing cameras within buses and implementing alert buttons on the driver and conductor's seats.

The court directed a series of inquiries to the counsel representing the Delhi government concerning the measures implemented to bolster women's safety in the capital city.

The bench of Justices Kameswar Rao and Anoop Kumar Mendiratta directed a rapid succession of questions, inquiring about the presence of cameras in DTC buses, the installation of push-to-talk buttons on CCTV poles, and the duration for which the footage from the CCTVs is retained, aimed at the counsel representing the Delhi government.

The court, in continuation of a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) it had initiated back in 2012 concerning the safety and security of women, revisited the matter. This initiative stemmed from the tragic gang-rape of a 23-year-old woman on a moving bus on December 16, 2012, who tragically passed away due to her injuries days afterward.

The court requested the Delhi government submit a status report encompassing various details. These included the viability of implementing cameras within DTC buses and installing alert buttons at the seats of drivers and conductors. Additionally, they sought information on the duration for which data from the city's CCTV installations is retained and whether any audits are conducted regarding their functionality in the national capital.

The bench inquired whether the Delhi government had adhered to the court's previous directive to seek guidance regarding the recommendation proposed by the amicus curiae, advocate Meera Bhatia. This suggestion entailed the consideration of placing hoardings or posters in buses and other public transport vehicles to raise awareness and educate against incidents of molestation.

Ms. Bhatia emphasized that hoardings or posters explicitly highlighting molestation as a severe and punishable offense could serve as a deterrent. At the start of the hearing, the bench expressed a keen interest in understanding the proposed facilities or safety measures recommended and put into practice within taxis to ensure the safety of female passengers.

Earlier, the court had given the Delhi Police an extension to review the proposal regarding the installation of panic buttons on the same poles that host CCTV cameras, aimed at assisting women in distress.

During the proceedings, the counsel representing the Delhi government updated the court, stating that the implementation of a 'push-to-talk panic button' on CCTV poles is actively being considered by the technology division of the Delhi Police.

The court has been consistently issuing directives aimed at enhancing the city's law enforcement, including augmenting the count of police officers, installing CCTV cameras in police stations and areas susceptible to crime, expediting the analysis of samples at forensic science laboratories (FSL), and ensuring prompt distribution of compensation to victims of sexual assault.