On the previous Friday, the Delhi High Court instructed the Delhi Police, Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi, Delhi University (DU), and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University to convene and devise Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for implementing security measures during college festivals.

A panel consisting of Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Mini Pushkarna issued a directive stating, "Meanwhile, the Deputy Commissioner of Police (Legal) is instructed to organize a meeting involving representatives from IIT Delhi, Indraprastha University, and Delhi University. The objective is to establish Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) that ensure security measures for the annual college festivals organized by these institutions."

The court was addressing a suo moto petition regarding an incident in which female students from Bharati College, University of Delhi, were reportedly surreptitiously filmed in the restroom while changing costumes at the "Rendezvous festival" organized by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi, on October 6.

In the course of the hearing, the bench was informed that the accused had been apprehended, and his phone was undergoing forensic analysis due to the deletion of the recorded videos. Additionally, it was conveyed that the police had taken measures to prevent the online uploading of any videos or photos related to the incident. Acknowledging these updates, the bench scheduled the next hearing for January 22, 2024.

Significantly, on October 9, the high court initiated suo moto proceedings in response to the incident. The court became aware of a newspaper article titled "Harassment at college fests leaves students anguished, shaken," published in the Indian Express on October 9, 2023. This article highlighted the "lapses in security measures" during annual college festivals organized by universities throughout the state, leading to injuries, violations, and trauma for attending students.

Upon reviewing the newspaper article, a division bench comprising Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula observed, "During the Rendezvous festival organized by the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi [IIT-D] on October 6, 2023, a group of students from Bharati College, University of Delhi, who were invited to participate in a fashion show event, identified an individual clandestinely recording them while they were changing costumes in a washroom."

According to the news report, upon examination of the CCTV footage, it was revealed that the individual involved in the incident was identified as a member of the housekeeping staff at IIT-D.

The bench expressed, "This episode has left the victims distraught, and has understandably raised concerns regarding the misuse of the videos, including their circulation on various social media platforms."

The bench expressed its opinion, stating, "In our opinion, it is imperative that adequate security measures are put in place, allowing the students to attend such events without any impending fear of experiencing such acts of violation. Thus, in view of the afore-noted episode, this Court deems it appropriate to take suo motu cognizance of the issue of security breaches, particularly in respect of female attendees, at the festivals organized by colleges/universities in Delhi-NCR."

The counsel for Delhi Police, Nandita Rao, informed the court that a case had been registered under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, and the accused was presently in judicial custody.

The court had ordered, "Let notices be also issued to IIT-D, University of Delhi, and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University." Recognizing the "gravity and sensitivity" of the matter, the bench expressed the need for immediate action, stating, "Therefore, we consider it appropriate to issue the following directions."

The court had instructed the Delhi Police to submit a status report within two weeks from October 9, providing details of the actions taken against the accused involved in the incident at IIT-D on October 6, 2023.

The court had further directed, "The Investigating Officer [IO] of the case at hand shall exercise utmost discretion during the investigation and ensure anonymity of the women involved. Prompt steps shall be taken to prevent the dissemination of photographs clicked/videos recorded by the accused. In the event such media is circulated on any of the social media platforms, the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police as well as the IO are directed to undertake immediate steps for their take-down, in accordance with the law."

Case: Court on its own motion v. Govt of NCT of Delhi & Ors.