Walk the Extra Mile: Delhi High Court Slams Authorities over Failing One Stop Centres

Coming down heavily on the Delhi Government and the Delhi Police for the poor state of One Stop Centres (OSCs) in the Capital, the Delhi High Court has asked the authorities to walk ‘the extra mile’ to make these centres for victims of abuse, child marriage, and minors’ pregnancy effective, useful and known. Hearing a petition filed by Bachpan Bachao Andolan, the bench comprising Chief Justice D.K. Upadhyay and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela issued a slew of directions to create mass awareness about the centres, carry advertisements in prominent newspapers in both English and Hindi, and fill all vacant seats, among others. Bachpan Bachao Andolan, also known as the Association for Voluntary Action (AVA), is a partner of the Just Rights for Children, the largest network comprising 250 NGO members working in 418 districts for child protection.

One Stop Centres were established to support women and children who are victims of violence, as a central point where the victims can file a complaint, get legal aid, and well as medical support.

The High Court emphasised that there is an urgent need of awareness about the OSCs among all stakeholders, especially police personnel, victims, their parents, NGOs, and the general public. Additionally, the High Court mandated that signboards be displayed near schools, hospitals, railway stations, bus stations, marketplaces, and other public locations, providing information about the facilities available at the Centres, as well as the helpline number.

Pointing out that how cases of child marriage and minors’ pregnancies are handled leads to further trauma to the victims of such crimes, the Bench said, “We also direct that the Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for handling cases of child pregnancy and child marriages must be circulated, among all, including the police personnel and the personnel managing these centres, and an appropriate circular shall also be issued so that the procedures so developed are followed and complied with.”

The court also directed that a high-ranking nodal officer be appointed to coordinate with all stakeholders and ensure compliance with the directions issued in this matter, including any future directions that may be passed. This nodal officer shall be present in Court on all hearings. Timely disbursement of salaries to OSC staff should be ensured by GNCTD, the court said and added that the infrastructural gaps in OSCs must be addressed immediately.

Talking about the High Court’s guidelines for One Stop Centres, Rachna Tyagi, General Counsel, Just Rights for Children, said, “The Hon’ble High Court’s stance on One Stop Centres is a crucial affirmation that justice must be accessible, respectful, and complete. This order not only reinforces the importance of survivor-centric support system, but is also a reaffirmation that victims of sexual abuse and child marriage deserve legal redressal, timely and coordinated support. They must not be made to suffer twice. First at the hands of perpetrators, then at the hands of a broken system. Victims must not be revictimized in the pursuit of justice.”

The High Court also reprimanded the authorities for the absence of counsellors in the OSCs and mandated the Department of Women and Child Development to fill all the vacant posts on priority, and said that contractual staff may be appointed if regular recruitment is delayed.

Taking cognizance of an affidavit filed by the Delhi Government earlier in March this year, the Hon’ble bench expressed dissatisfaction with the measures undertaken and observed that “necessary steps that were required to be taken by the Delhi government and Delhi Police have not been taken.”

The High Court has directed the Delhi Government to file an affidavit giving details of steps taken to ensure compliance of the order.

As per the government data, between April 2015 and December 2024, a total of 802 One Stop Centres were operational across the country, of which 11 are in Delhi.