File photo of Delhi High Court.
Aiming at beefing up security in the city following growing attacks on women, Delhi High Court today rapped the Centre for "dragging its feet" on inducting more personnel in the city police and directed it to take a final decision within four weeks.
A bench of justices Badar Durrez Ahmed and Sanjeev Sachdeva directed the Ministry of Finance (MoF) to examine the proposal for inducting over 16,000 personnel in Delhi Police and decide within four weeks from today, after the court was informed that all proposals have been cleared by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA).
On installation of CCTV cameras at 44 identified sensitive locations in the national capital, the bench was told by Delhi government that "financial implication" of the project would be around Rs 404 crore and it was currently awaiting MHA's approval.
The court, thereafter, directed MHA, represented by Additional Solicitor General Sanjay Jain and standing counsel Vivek Goyal, to file a status report with regard to progress made in installing CCTV cameras.
It also made clear that while setting up the cameras, privacy of individuals needs to be protected.
On the setting up a compensation fund for victims of crimes against women, the court directed Delhi government to create it before next date of hearing on September 23.
The court also directed Delhi government to expedite the process of setting up Forensic Science Laboratories (FSLs) at Sheikh Sarai and Rohini in South and West Delhi respectively.
With respect to the Rohini lab, which is estimated to cost around Rs 34 crore, the government told the court that it was stuck with its finance department and awaiting clearance from the fire department.
The court directed Delhi government to file a status report before the next date of hearing with regard to progress in setting up FSLs at Sheikh Sarai and Rohini.
On the lab at Sayurpur, DDA said it has given 50 per cent of required land and rest would be given soon after completing the verification process. Court gave Delhi Development Authority (DDA) four weeks to complete this process.
The lab at Yashwant Place in Delhi was awaiting all the specialised forensic equipment for which it has already paid, Delhi government told the court.