Beat Marshalls, Designated Constables Deployed For Safety Of Female Students At College Located Near Slum: Police To Bombay High Court

Disposing of a petition seeking safety measures from police authorities for female students attending college located near a slum, the Bombay High Court directed the police take all appropriate steps and measures to ensure the safety of the students adding that any laxity on their part maybe viewed seriously by the court.The court passed the order after noting the police's affidavit stating the steps taken by it including deployment of beat marshals, mobile vans for survelliance as well designated beat marshals for the college.In view of this affidavit, a division bench of Chief Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Amit Borkar in its order said, "In view of the aforesaid statements made by the Senior Police Inspector in the affidavit referred to hereinabove, we dispose of this writ petition with a direction to the police authorities concerned to take all appropriate steps and measures including measures as mentioned in the additional affidavit for ensuring the safety and security of the girl students in the area. Any laxity on the part of the authorities in this regard maybe viewed seriously by the Court.”The Girls' College in question, managed by the Seva Mandal Education Society, had argued that due to the college being surrounded by slums, it posed a possible danger to the girl students.Previously, the High Court had remarked that the security and safety of girl students in the area required special measures as the area is surrounded by slums and there was a possibility of danger to girl students. On 31 August the high court had asked the State to submit an affidavit personally vetted by the Police Commissioner regarding the measures it has taken to ensure the safety and security of female students attending college. The Senior Police Inspector, Matunga Police Station thus filed an affidavit giving details of the steps taken to ensure the safety and security of the girl students.The affidavit stated that beat marshals and mobile vans have been assigned to different zones and areas for patrolling and surveillance throughout the Matunga Division. It mentioned that the beat marshals and mobile vans cover the entire area of the institution."I say that each squad (Nirbhaya Squad) patrolling by use of Mobile Vans No.5 comprises of a female officer of Sub-Inspector or Assistant Police Inspector rank, a woman constable, a male policeman/constable and a male driver, supervised by a woman Assistant Commissioner of Police or Police Inspector from each policing region/Zone," the affidavit said. It further stated that one or two constables will be designated to make a round of the college and school during the school opening and closing timings in addition to patrolling and surveillance.Case title: Gujarati Kelavani Mandal & Anr. vs. The General Manager, Central Railway & Ors. (Writ Petition No.1300 of 2024)Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Bom) 638Click Here To Read/Download Order

Beat Marshalls, Designated Constables Deployed For Safety Of Female Students At College Located Near Slum: Police To Bombay High Court

Sanjana Dadmi

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