Delhi police creates a “SOP” to ensure college festivals are secure

A draft standard operating procedure (SOP) for setting up appropriate security measures during college festivals in the city was brought before the Delhi High Court on Monday.

According to the proposed SOP, entry onto campuses would need a student identification card, the Delhi Police lawyer informed the court. The court said orally that the SOP may be closed if it was created by “joint consultation” with all parties involved.

It noted the progress report submitted by the municipal police and scheduled a follow-up hearing on April 22.

The court was hearing a suo motu case that was filed in 2023 in response to claims made by a number of female students that they were surreptitiously recorded while using the restroom at IIT Delhi at an event hosted by the institution.

According to the draft SOP, the police attorney said at the Monday hearing that the college administration would be in charge of the areas within its grounds while the city police will handle the areas outside.

The police told the court that women security guards would be deployed and that female staff members would be tasked with cleaning the women’s restrooms in accordance with the proposed SOP.