Curated By: Sukanya Nandy
Last Updated: October 10, 2023, 13:33 IST
The bench has asked the police to file a status report in two weeks (File Photo)
A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula of Delhi HC has said that the incident shows lapses in security during college fests across universities
Various women students of Delhi University’s Bharati College were allegedly secretly filmed in the washroom while they were changing costumes during a college fest organised by the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Delhi. The incident happened on October 6. CCTV footage showed the individual responsible for secretly filming the women students was identified to be part of IIT Delhi’s housekeeping staff, reported Indian Express. Following this, an FIR was filed.
In regard to the incident of alleged sexual harassment of girls at IIT Delhi, the high court has taken Suo Motu Cognizance of the issue. A division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula of Delhi HC has said that the incident shows lapses in security during college fests across universities. Such recurrent instances show lacksidical approach of college authorities.
“These recurrent instances shed light on the lackadaisical approach of authorities organizing such festivals in envisaging and enforcing protective mechanisms, aimed at ensuring the safety of students participating in or attending the event. 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,” the bench said.
The Delhi HC also issued notice to the Delhi University, IIT-Delhi, and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, reported LiveLaw. The bench has asked the police to file a status report in two weeks. It was informed by the Delhi Police’s counsel that a case has been registered under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. The accused is now in judicial custody.
The Delhi Police shall, within two weeks from today, file a status report detailing the action taken against the accused associated with the incident at IIT Delhi on October 6, 2023, the bench added. The court also added that prompt steps need to be taken to prevent further such incidents from happening.
