The notice was issued by a division Bench comprising Justice Anil Dev Singh and Justice Mukul Mudgal on a public interest litigation (PIL) on the worsening law and order situation in the Capital seeking direction to the Centre and Delhi Government to improve it in the wake of rising crimes.

The Bench asked the Finance Secretary to file the reply by October 14, when the matter would come up for hearing again. Advocate Rajiv Awasthi, who had filed the PIL in August sought the presence of Delhi Police Commissioner in the Court and moved an application to this effect. He alleged that the police had failed to control the rising crimes in the Capital.

Court did not agree with the standing counsel Rakesh Tiku's contention that financial crunch was coming in the way ofopening new police stations. ``Can a democratic government say that due to lack of fund no new police stations will be opened?'' the Bench asked.

The Bench directed Tiku to specify how many policemen were deployed to look after VIP security and how many were put to maintain routine policing. The Home Ministry affidavit filed earlier had stated that it would immediately require over Rs 57 crore to open 17 new police stations with 3,100 new recruitment.

Expressing dissatisfaction over the affidavits filed by the Home Ministry and Delhi police which stated that 8,000 policemen were deployed to look after VIP security, the Bench said contrary reports were appearing in media in this regard.

``Do you think the streets of Delhi are safe? A minor girl was abducted only yesterday from a bus stand, is that security?'' the Court demanded. The Court also wanted the government counsel to specify as to how many hours a constable was working per day. ``They have to work for 18 hours which is very serious,'' the Benchobserved.

Tiku said the government has accepted the recommendations of Srivastava Committee report of 1988 on requirement of Delhi police according to which 54 more police stations were needed in the Capital. But it all depended upon availability of funds, he said.

Awasthi, while seeking the presence of Delhi Police Commissioner in the court, said ``Till date we don't know the stand of the city police and their requirements about whom we have been talking.''