"Painful Parallels To Nirbhaya Case": Supreme Court On Delhi-NCR Rape Cases, tell me about this news in (https://www.ndtv.com/india-news/painful-parallels-to-nirbhaya-case-supreme-court-on-delhi-ncr-rape-cases-12107548)

The Supreme Court of India has taken suo motu cognisance of several recent sexual assault cases reported across Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), expressing deep concern over public safety.

Here are the key details of the news report:

• Parallels to the 2012 Nirbhaya Case: The Supreme Court observed that recent incidentsparticularly the gang rape of a minor inside a moving sleeper bus travelling between Greater Noida and Delhibore “painful parallels” to the 2012 Nirbhaya gang-rape case. The bench questioned whether systemic lessons had truly been learned over the years despite repeated assurances regarding women’s safety.

• Public Spaces as High-Risk Zones: The bench emphasized that public areassuch as buses, roads, public parks (referencing another recent assault in Delhi’s Astha Kunj park), and transit hubscannot be allowed to become high-risk zones due to absent or poor police patrolling and inadequate surveillance.

• Constitutional Rights and State Duty: The court reiterated that the right to live with dignity, free from violence, is a fundamental guarantee under Article 21 of the Indian Constitution, making public safety an essential obligation of the state and law enforcement agencies.

• Accountability and Surveillance Lapses: The court highlighted severe lapses in safety compliance, such as unaddressed complaints, non-functioning surveillance equipment, and poor enforcement of public transport regulations, directing authorities to account for these systemic security gaps.