Delhi High Court takes suo motu cognisance of filming of female DU students changing costumes at IIT Delhi fest

The Delhi High Court on Monday took suo motu cognisance of an incident that occurred during the cultural fest of Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi), where female students of a Delhi University (DU) college were allegedly filmed while changing their costumes in the washroom..A Division Bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad took cognisance of a news report published in The Indian Express on October 9.As per the report, a group of students from DU's Bharati College who were invited to participate at a fashion show event, spotted an individual secretly filming them while they were changing costumes in a washroom. CCTV footage later revealed that the person in question belonged to IIT Delhi's housekeeping staff..The Court noted that it has been confronted with several cases of student harassment, highlighting serious lapses at the university level in the design and implementation of security measures at college festivals.The Bench referred to a similar case in DU’s Gargi College, where several students were allegedly assaulted.“These recurrent instances shed light on the lackadaisical approach of authorities organizing such festivals in envisaging and enforcing protective mechanisms, aimed at ensuring safety of students participating 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. Thus, in view of the afore-noted episode, this Court deems it appropriate to take suo motu cognizance of the issue of security breaches, particularly in respect of female attendees, at the festivals organized by colleges/ universities in Delhi-NCR,” the order stated..Delhi Police told the Court that the accused in the present case had been arrested.The Court issued notice to the Delhi government and Delhi Police, as well as Delhi University and IP University. The universities are required to submit a report indicating their existing policy on security measures taken during college festivals.Delhi Police was directed to file a status report on the matter in two weeks. The Bench ordered the investigating officer to exercise ‘utmost discretion’ during investigation and to ensure anonymity of the women involved.“Prompt steps shall be taken to prevent dissemination of photographs clicked / videos recorded by the accused. In the event such media is circulated on any of the social media platforms, the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police as well as the IO are directed to undertake immediate steps for their take-down, in accordance with law.”.Standing Counsel (Civil) Santosh Kumar Tripathi and Additional Standing Counsel (ASC) Nandita Rao appeared for the Delhi government..The matter will be listed next on November 10..[Read Order]