Delhi HC Directs Police to Ensure Students Safety During College Fests

The Delhi High Court on Thursday directed the Delhi police to ensure the provision of sufficient personnel before organizing any cultural festivals or similar events at colleges, emphasizing their responsibility for ensuring students’ safety.

A bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula emphasized that it is the duty of authorities, including the Delhi police, to guarantee the safety and security of students during such functions held in colleges or educational institutions.

The Court which has disposed of a petition seeking a court-monitored CBI investigation into the alleged sexual harassment of female students during a cultural festival at Delhi University’s all-women Gargi College in February 2020. The court stated that it will issue a comprehensive order on the matter.

“In order to avoid such unfortunate incidents in future, the Commissioner of Delhi Police is directed to ensure that before holding any such programme, proper police force is provided,” the bench stated.

The counsel for Delhi police informed the court that an “untraced report” had been submitted to the trial court, as none of the girls identified anyone who had allegedly sexually harassed them. An untraced report is typically filed when an accused individual does not cooperate with an investigation or cannot be apprehended.

The students had claimed they were molested, but they did not come forward to record their statements before a magistrate. They indicated that they had moved on with their lives, and their families did not wish to pursue criminal action, as reported by the police.

Delhi police’s counsel also stated that they had reviewed the CCTV footage from cameras outside the college gate but were unable to identify those involved in the alleged acts of sexual harassment.

Considering the ongoing proceedings in a magisterial court in Saket, the high court concluded that no further orders were needed in the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) case.

On February 6, 2020, a group of men reportedly entered Gargi College during the ‘Reverie’ fest and allegedly harassed and molested attendees. The incident gained attention after some students shared their experiences on Instagram, alleging that security personnel failed to intervene.

Petitioner M L Sharma, an advocate, alleged in the PIL filed after the incident that it was a planned political and criminal conspiracy linked to the Delhi elections, and no action was taken afterward. The petitioner sought a court-monitored CBI probe, preservation of video recordings and CCTV footage, and the arrest of the culprits.

The PIL claimed that the incident was part of a clear criminal conspiracy orchestrated by a political party to incite the public for favorable voting outcomes. Despite the presence of Delhi Police on February 6, neither the principal nor other authorities attempted to halt or apprehend the accused individuals.

The police had registered a case under IPC sections 452, 354, 509, and 34, which pertain to house-trespass, assault on women, insult to modesty, and acts done by several individuals with a common intention.