The Supreme Court on Monday took up the recent cases of sexual assault in Delhi on its own, calling them a systematic failure of law enforcement.

A bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and K. Vinod Chandran said public places such as parks and buses cannot become high-risk zones for women because of poor lighting and weak surveillance.

The court noted recent cases, including the alleged gang rape of a teenager near Astha Kunj park and the assault of a girl inside a bus that travelled about 47 km from Greater Noida to Kashmere Gate without being stopped at any check post. The bench said the incidents draw a painful parallel to the 2012 Nirbhaya case.

The court said sympathy alone is not enough. It directed its administration to file a public interest petition so the court can pursue the issue, and sought a detailed response from the Delhi Police.

Hundreds of students had protested in Delhi last week demanding better safety for women. Delhi’s chief minister has admitted lapses and promised stronger policing. Why it matters: the court’s move could force a hard look at how the capital protects women in public spaces.