New Delhi, March 12 (IANS): The Delhi High Court Wednesday directed police to provide a status report on "crime mapping" of the capital, especially on crimes against women.

A division bench of Acting Chief Justice B.D. Ahmed and Justice Siddharth Mridul directed Delhi Police to submit the report in a sealed cover.

"Delhi Police to file status report on crime mapping of the capital particularly of crimes against women," said the bench, posting the matter for April 16.

Earlier, the bench directed police to do "crime mapping" in the capital to know the reasons behind incidents of harassment to women.

It said it wanted to know whether the "phenomenon of sexual aggression against females was a social or a policing problem".

The court was hearing a plea filed by advocate Gaurav Bansal who cited surveys by independent groups claiming a spurt in crimes against women and sought directions for taking adequate steps to prevent them.

The plea said the Delhi government failed to provide an atmosphere conducive to the growth of girl students and women.

It submitted a press release issued by Delhi Police in April 2013 which said incidents of molestation and harassment had recorded 600 percent and 783.67 percent rise respectively in recent years.