The Supreme Court gave an important decision on Thursday. The Supreme Court has said that prostitution is also a profession, and the police should not interfere in their work. The Supreme Court has directed the state governments and union territories to follow certain recommendations for sex workers strictly.
A petition was filed in the Supreme Court regarding the problems of sex workers, and hearing the same, the Supreme Court has given the said order.
The Supreme Court, in its order, said that sex workers are also entitled to dignity and protection under the law. The court said that when it is clear that the sex worker is an adult and is doing this work with consent, the police should avoid criminal action against him. Whenever a sex worker makes a complaint to the police, the police should take it seriously and act according to the law.
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A bench of Justice L Nageswara Rao, Justice BR Gavai, and Justice AS Bopanna gave the said order while hearing the petition. According to the news of Live Law, the Supreme Court said that whenever a brothel is raided, the sex workers concerned should not be arrested or punished because voluntary sex work is not illegal; only running a brothel is illegal.
The court has said that the central and state governments should also include their representatives when making any policy or scheme for sex workers. Any decision can be taken after taking their views.
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The court also said that a sex worker could not be separated from his child because he was in prostitution. Also, if a minor is living with sex workers in a brothel, then it should not be assumed that he has been trafficked; he can also be the son/daughter of the sex worker, and if it is proved in the trial, then he should not be the forcibly separated.
The court has sought a response from the central government on these recommendations. The Central Government has been given time till July 27 to respond.
