JAMMU, Oct 6: Senior BJP leader and former Sarpanch Adv. Devraj Sharma welcomed the Supreme Court’s strong observations on the safety of women in Delhi-NCR, saying that the priority of the law-enforcement machinery must be to prevent crimes before they occur rather than merely respond after an offence has been committed. The Supreme Court, while hearing a suo motu case concerning recent rape incidents, stressed that women should feel safe while travelling or moving around the city even late at night and called for effective deterrence against offenders.
Sharma said the Court’s emphasis on creating a deterrent among habitual offenders and anti-social elements sends an important message about the responsibility of the police and administration. “Women’s safety cannot be treated as a matter of reaction after a crime takes place. The entire system must work proactively to identify vulnerable areas, monitor habitual offenders, improve patrolling and ensure that women can move freely without fear,” he said.
He said the concern expressed by the Supreme Court should also encourage authorities across the country, including in Jammu and Kashmir, to continuously review arrangements for women’s safety in markets, educational institutions, public transport, parks, isolated stretches and other vulnerable locations. Effective lighting, surveillance, visible policing, responsive emergency mechanisms and prompt investigation, he said, can contribute to creating safer public spaces.
Referring to the Court’s observation that the focus should be on preventing crime, Sharma said deterrence must operate strictly within the framework of law, with offenders facing prompt and lawful consequences. He stressed that strengthening policing and ensuring certainty of legal action are essential for discouraging those who target women and girls.
“Every woman and girl has the right to live, study, work and travel with dignity and without fear. Safety cannot depend upon the time of day or the location,” Sharma said, adding that families, educational institutions, communities, police and administration must work together to build an environment where women feel secure.
The BJP leader also called for greater attention to prevention, community awareness and support systems for victims, alongside effective investigation and prosecution. He said the dignity and security of women must remain a continuous priority rather than becoming a subject of public concern only after a serious incident.
Sharma said the Supreme Court’s intervention provides an opportunity for law-enforcement agencies to reassess their preventive mechanisms and strengthen coordination at the ground level. He reiterated that strong institutions, responsible policing, safer public spaces and timely justice together form the foundation of public confidence in women’s security.