Good laws can never restrain bad people but good people can always restrain bad people: Delhi HC on steps taken by Police to prevent crime

“Good laws can never restrain bad people but good people can always restrain bad people”, said the Delhi High Court while opining that adequate steps had been taken by the Delhi Police to prevent/control the crime in the city. (Prashant Manchanda vs UOI).The order was passed by a Division Bench of Chief Justice DN Patel and Justice C Hari Shankar in a petition preferred by Advocate Prashant Manchanda..While the petition sought a direction to the Delhi Government and the Central Goverment to make new provisions under the criminal Law to "cover the lacunae" with regard to the offence of "snatching", the petitioner only pressed for a direction to provide proper lightings and adequate safety facilities in dark and gloomy public areas including adequate vigil in and around parks & installation of requisite CCTV cameras. .After hearing the petitioner-in-person and the counsel for the Respondents, the Court perused the Status Report filed by Commissioner of Police, Delhi Police and noted, .6790 Close Circuit Television (CCTV) cameras have already been installed, 2467 CCTV cameras are in the process of installation and a tender for installation of additional 4506 CCTV has also been floated by the respondents. Thus, in total, there will be 13,763 CCTV cameras installed in Delhi which facilitate the concerned authority to identify the culprits and thereby prevent offences like chain snatching, eve teasing etc. in the public areas of city of Delhi.Delhi High Court.The Court also took on record the initiatives undertaken by the Delhi Police for the safety and security of women. .These initiatives included a single emergency helpline No '112' for immediate assistance to women, a 24 hour helpline 1091 for women, special anti-stalking group in the Central Police Control Room, 'Himmat Plus SOS' App for women, All Women PCR Vans, intensive patrolling by Beat Officers etc..The Delhi Police added that there are no jurisdictional dispute which allow delay in police response on a complaint made by women and immediate action is taken by the officer on receipt of complaint to apprehend the accused and to provide medical and other assistance. .The Court was also informed that the Police had zero-tolerance policy against eve-teasers and special checking at Metro Stations and Railway Stations etc is undertaken for security of women. .Pursuant to the initiatives, discotheques and night clubs have been strictly directed to close by 01:00 AM and civic agencies are regularly informed about poorly lit stretches of roads, it was also informed..In view of the above, the Court opined, ...it appears that enough and adequate steps have been taken to prevent/control the crimes/offences in Delhi. It ought to be kept in mind that “good laws can never restrain bad people but good people can always restrain bad people”Delhi High Court.The writ petition was accordingly disposed of with an expection that the steps already initiated by Delhi Police will be effectively implemented..Petitioner Prashant Manchanda appeared with Advocate Harpreet Singh Hora..Central Government was represented by Standing Counsel Anil Soni..Delhi Government was represented by Addln Standing Counsel Gautam Narayan and Advocates Shivani Vij, Dacchita Shahi..Read the Order: