Supreme Court orders QR-code tracking for Delhi police patrolling

It matters to citizens because it directs immediate enhancements to police patrolling, infrastructure safety audits, and citizen grievance mechanisms to prevent crimes against women.

Who it concerns: The order concerns the Government of NCT of Delhi, the Delhi Police, the Delhi Development Authority (DDA), the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD), the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC), the Transport Department, and the Ministry of Women & Child Development. It also affects citizens, particularly women, students, and public transport users in the NCT of Delhi.

What the document says

• The Court directed the Commissioner of Police, Delhi, and the Chief Secretary, GNCTD, to furnish a joint report on the existence, number, and coverage of dedicated control-room command centres ('war rooms') and the protocols for real-time emergency deployment.
• Immediate enhanced beat patrolling is mandated across the NCT of Delhi, specifically around educational institutions and areas flagged in vulnerability mapping exercises.
• Strict verification of drivers and assistants in public transport (buses, cabs, taxis, rickshaws, and app-based services like Ola/Uber) is required; only registered and verified persons may operate these vehicles.
• Public transport vehicles must display the names and photographs of verified drivers and assistants in a visible area for passenger identification.
• The Court emphasized the 'Broken Windows theory,' directing that visible signs of civic neglect (broken lights, non-functional CCTV) be addressed immediately to prevent a perception of insecurity.
• Police and local administration are directed to consider instituting regular citizen-engagement meetings under the supervision of a designated officer to receive and monitor grievances.
• Preventive policing training must be integrated into the induction of police personnel and reinforced periodically, with the Bureau of Police Research and Development to examine existing mechanisms.
• The Court noted a 39% shortage in police staff highlighted by the Comptroller and Auditor General of India in a 2020 report and requested updated data on current police strength.

Also in the document

• The Court appointed Ms. Liz Mathew as Amicus Curiae to assist in the proceedings.
• The Solicitor General of India stated that senior officials from GNCTD, Delhi Police, DDA, MCD, NDMC, and the Ministry of Women & Child Development have commenced joint deliberations for compliance.
• The Court suggested the use of QR codes for monitoring police patrolling to ensure accountability through automated time-stamping and geo-mapping.
• The Court noted that the multiplicity of existing grievance portals (e.g., CM Jan Sunwai, MCD-311, Delhi Police 112) causes confusion among citizens, particularly those with limited digital literacy.