Supreme Court considers prostitution as a valid profession, order - police should not disturb them

New Delhi. The Supreme Court has ordered the police of all states and union territories that they should not interfere in the work of sex workers. Considering sex work as a profession, the court said that the police should not take criminal action against adult and consensual sex work women. The Supreme Court said, sex workers are also entitled to dignity and equal protection under the law. A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, BR Gavai and AS Bopanna in the Supreme Court, while issuing 6 directions to protect the rights of sex workers, said that sex workers are also entitled to equal protection under the law.

The court said, when it becomes clear that the sex worker is an adult and is doing this work of her own free will, then the police should refrain from interfering with her and taking criminal action. The court said, every person of this country has the right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution. The court also ordered that the police should not arrest or harass sex workers whenever they conduct raids, as it is not illegal to engage in sex work voluntarily, it is only illegal to run a brothel.

The court said, a woman is a sex worker, her child should not be separated from her mother just because she is a sex worker. Sex workers and their children also have the right to fundamental protection and a dignified life. If a minor is found to be residing in a brothel, or living with a sex worker, the child should not be treated as trafficked. The court said, sex workers also have the right to all the basic human rights and other rights stipulated in the constitution for the citizens. The bench said, the police should treat all sex workers with respect and should not abuse them verbally or physically. Nor should they force any sexual activity.