Sex work is a profession, police can’t take criminal action: Supreme Court

The Supreme Court on Thursday issued a significant order regarding prostitution and sex workers saying that police should neither interfere nor take criminal action against consenting sex workers as sex work is a profession.

A three-judge bench headed by Justice L Nageswara Rao said that voluntary sex work is not illegal therefore police cannot arrested, penalised, harassed, or victimised the sex workers during raids on brothels but running the brothel is unlawful.

“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 gainsaid that notwithstanding the profession, every individual in this country has the right to a dignified life under Article 21 of the Constitution,” said the bench as reported by indiatoday.in.

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