HC asks Centre, city govt to induct more cops in Delhi Police

, Apr 16: The

today asked the Centre, city government and

to take steps in creating and filling up additional posts in the police saying the "great shortage" of security personnel has been felt by the citizens.

A bench headed by Acting Chief Justice B D Ahmed considered the plea of Ministry of Home Affairs that it has asked Delhi Police to reassess the situation with regard to creation of additional posts in the force. "The acute shortage of policemen in the national capital has been felt by the citizens," it said, adding the Delhi government should also respond to the proposal without delay.

The acute shortage of cops in Delhi has been felt by the citizens: HC

The court also termed as "unacceptable" the delay in payment of compensations to rape victims and asked the Delhi government to ensure that they are paid within two weeks after the issue is decided by authorities including Delhi Legal Services Authority.

Taking the issue of setting up of forensic laboratories, the court said that till the time, plots are handed over to the Delhi government for constructing the laboratories, they can be established in a government or private building. On being told that the authorities have selected a place in a NDMC building, the court asked the civic agency to expedite the process of handing over the premises to Delhi government for setting up a Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL).

Earlier, the bench had expressed displeasure over the "inadequate" number of FSLs in Delhi and directed the city government to set up such facilities in rented buildings as a "stop gap measure" till land is allocated. The court said there is only one such lab in the national capital at Rohini and "this is clearly inadequate and hampers criminal investigation process and justice dispensation".

The court issued the directions on a case initiated by it after the December 16 gangrape incident and in which it had sought information from the Centre and the state governments on the issues of compensating victims of crime, including rape, setting up more CFSL facilities in the city and induction of more women constables.

PTI