Delhi HC issues notices to IIT-Delhi, others over ‘secret filming’ of DU students during college fest

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday took suo motu cognisance of a report published by The Indian Express regarding the alleged secret filming of students from Delhi University’s Bharti College at IIT Delhi’s annual Rendezvous fest.

The court observed that the report shows the deficiencies in security measures during annual college festivals organised by universities in the state, leading to incidents of injuries, violations, and emotional distress among students attending these events.

Also Read:Pune: 4-year-old boy killed in leopard attack in Junnar forest, third attack this year

The Indian Express published a report titled ‘Harassment at College Fests Leaves Students Distressed and Shaken’ on Monday, October 9.

“The aforesaid newspaper report notes that during the Rendezvous festival, organised by Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi [“IIT-D”] on 06th October 2023, a group of students enrolled in Bharati College, University of Delhi, who had been invited to participate in a fashion show event, spotted an individual secretly filming them while they were changing costumes in a washroom. Upon reviewing the CCTV footage, the individual was identified to be a part of IIT-D’s housekeeping staff,” said a division bench of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Sanjeev Narula.

Also Read:CWC meeting today: Focus on caste census, poll strategy for upcoming Assembly elections

The bench observed that the incident has left the victims deeply distressed and has raised concerns about the potential misuse of the videos, including their dissemination on various social media platforms.

The High Court noted with regret that it has encountered numerous cases of student harassment, underscoring significant deficiencies in the university’s planning and implementation of security measures during college festivals.

Also Read:Rajasthan Elections 2023: Ashok Gehlot government orders caste census in poll-bound state

Referring to a 2020 case titled ‘Manohar Lal Sharma v. Central Bureau of Investigation and Others,’ which dealt with a similar incident at Gargi College during their annual fest, the court emphasised the need for proactive cooperation between universities and the police to enhance security protocols for college festivals.

The court further pointed out that these recurring incidents highlight the “negligent approach” of festival organisers and authorities in envisioning and enforcing protective measures to ensure the safety of student participants.

“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 organised by colleges/universities in Delhi-NCR,” the bench asserted.

The bench issued notices to the Delhi government and Delhi police, which were accepted by their respective counsels. In response, the Delhi police counsel stated that the accused is presently in judicial custody, and a case has been registered under Section 354C of the Indian Penal Code in connection with the newspaper report.

The High Court also sent notices to IIT-Delhi, the University of Delhi, and Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, recognizing the urgent need for action considering the sensitivity of the matter. The court instructed the Delhi Police to submit a status report within two weeks, detailing the actions taken against the individuals involved in the IIT-D incident on October 6.

The bench also directed the police to exercise utmost discretion during the investigation and ensure the anonymity of the women involved. “Prompt steps shall be taken to prevent the dissemination of photographs and videos recorded by the accused. If such media is circulated on any social media platforms, the concerned Deputy Commissioner of Police and the investigating officer are directed to take immediate steps for their removal, in accordance with the law.”

Furthermore, the court mandated that the respondent universities submit a report outlining their existing policies regarding “security measures during college festivals held at their premises.” The next hearing is scheduled for November 10.