Observing that, whatever the legal proceedings against her son, a mother cannot be left vulnerable to violence, the Delhi High Court has directed the Uttam Nagar police to ensure continuous round-the-clock police deployment in the lane where her house stands, after the CCTV footage shown in court supported her complaint that the house was attacked with stones and bricks over two days.
New Delhi: The Delhi High Court has directed the local police at Police Station Uttam Nagar to ensure continuous, round-the-clock deployment of sufficient personnel in the area, especially in the lane where the house of a petitioner stands, on a writ petition by the mother of an accused in FIR No. 122/2026, who sought police protection for herself and her family [Shahnaz v. State (NCT of Delhi) and Another].
Justice Girish Kathpalia passed the order on September 30, 2026 in W.P. (Crl.) No. 2902 of 2026, and listed the matter for October 16, 2026.
The petition
The petitioner sought a mandamus to the local police to provide immediate and adequate police protection to her and her family. She had also sought three other reliefs, which were not pressed.
Senior Advocate Warisha Farasat submitted that, over the past two days, some local residents, including family members of the person who was killed in the case leading to FIR No. 122/2026, had been violently attacking the petitioner’s house, including by throwing stones and bricks. She also showed the Court CCTV footage, which, the Court recorded, supports the petitioner’s version.
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‘Petitioner cannot be left vulnerable’
Calling the situation serious, the Court drew a line between the criminal case and the petitioner’s safety, noting that the proceedings in the FIR are against her son and that the law will take its course in them:
“Whatever be the legal proceedings pertaining to FIR No.122/2026, the same are against son of the petitioner, and in the same law will take its course, but petitioner cannot be left vulnerable and prone to such violence.”
Directions to the police
The State’s Standing Counsel accepted notice, and Inspector Mukesh Kumar of PS Uttam Nagar appeared in person and was shown the CCTV footage. He assured the Court that sufficient local police would be deployed immediately to ensure that no untoward incident takes place again in the area. The Court noted that the footage shows the house in a narrow lane, so that it is not difficult to protect it by posting police officials in the lane itself, and directed:
“At least till the situation becomes normal, the local police of PS Uttam Nagar shall ensure continuous round the clock deployment of sufficient police personnel in that area, especially in the lane where house of the petitioner exists.”
Status report within a week
The police have been directed to file a status report within one week, along with reliable documentary record showing sufficient deployment of police in the area and the other steps taken to prevent further violence. The matter will be heard next on October 16, 2026 in the Advance List.
Why The Police Deployment Order Matters
The order keeps the criminal case against the accused apart from the safety of his family, recording that, whatever the outcome of the proceedings against him, his mother cannot be left vulnerable to such violence. It also ties the police to a documented, verifiable deployment rather than an oral assurance alone. The Court has not examined the case against the petitioner’s son or the allegations against the persons said to have attacked the house, and these are matters for the investigation and trial.
Case Title: Shahnaz v. State (NCT of Delhi) and Another [W.P. (Crl.) No. 2902 of 2026]
Bench: Justice Girish Kathpalia, Delhi High Court
Date of Order: September 30, 2026
Appearances: Senior Advocate Warisha Farasat with Advocates Abdul Gaffar, Junaid Nisar, Nakul Sharma, Ruby Nagpal, Kaustabh Chaturvedi, Fawaz Shaheen, M. Huzaifa and Fahad for the petitioner; Advocates Abhinav Kumar and Aryan Sachdeva for the State, with Inspector Mukesh Kumar, PS Uttam Nagar
