The Supreme Court on Friday, November 6, extended the time for the Union government to file its reply in the suo motu case In Re: Recent Rape Incidents in Delhi NCR, directing that a meaningful and exhaustive reply be filed by November 23, LiveLaw reported. The reply had been due on November 6.

Source: LiveLaw

A bench of Justice JB Pardiwala and Justice Manmohan granted the extension on a request by Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, who told the bench that draft affidavits had been prepared but that he himself was not satisfied with the drafts. "Reply should be meaningful," Justice Pardiwala said, according to LiveLaw. Allowing the amicus curiae time to analyse the reply, the bench listed the matter for hearing on December 2.

The Court had taken suo motu cognisance of recent rape incidents in Delhi-NCR and had earlier issued a slew of directions to make public spaces safe for women in the National Capital, LiveLaw reported.

In its earlier detailed order in the same case (2026 INSC 1096), the Court directed enhanced beat patrolling, strict verification of public transport drivers and real-time command centre monitoring, while observing that preventive policing cannot justify arbitrary, excessive or disproportionate exercise of police powers, Verdictum reported.

Source: Verdictum

The allegations in the underlying incidents are matters for criminal investigation and trial; the suo motu proceedings examine the preventive and institutional response of the authorities. The Union government's reply is now due by November 23, and the case will be heard next on December 2.