Prostitution
Prostitution 'legal', sex workers entitled to dignity, police can't interfere: Supreme Court
New Delhi/IBNS: In a significant judgement, the Supreme Court Friday upheld prostitution as "legal", asserting that sex workers are entitled to dignity and equal protection under the law, media reports said.
In six directives, a three-judge bench, headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao, said, "Sex workers are entitled to equal protection of the law. Criminal law must apply equally in all cases on the basis of age and consent. When it is clear that the sex worker is an adult and is participating with consent, the police must refrain from interfering or taking any criminal action.
"It need not be again said that notwithstanding the profession, every individual in this country has the right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution."
The top court said sex workers can't be harrassed, arrested, penalised by raids in brothels, the running of which it says "illegal".
The bench said a sex worker can't be separated from her child citing her sex trade.
Noting the "often brutal and violent attitude of the police towards sex workers", the court said police should not discriminate against sex workers who lodge a complaint with them.
Media has also been asked to not reveal the identity of a sex workers during arrest, raid and rescue operations.
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