Mumbai, May 23 (). A sessions court in Mumbai has recently ruled that sex work in a public place is an offence. This causes trouble to others. The court acquitted a 34-year-old sex worker who was sent to a shelter home against her will.
In February, a sex worker was arrested along with two others after the Mumbai Police raided a brothel in Mulund and was produced before the Mazagon Magistrate Court on February 19.
The magistrate looked at her medical report, which proved she was of age, and sent her to a year’s rehabilitation at the Navajeevan Women’s Home in suburban Deonar on March 15, though the other two women who were caught were released.
Challenging the order in the sessions court, the woman with two minor children also denied involvement in any immoral activities.
Hearing his plea, Additional Sessions Judge C.V. Patil said the trial court had detained the victim only on the basis of her involvement in a similar offence, which she has challenged.
Judge Patil ruled that the victim was an adult and had a right to work, and that there was no allegation that she had engaged in sex work in public.
He said, as per the rules, engaging in sex work is not a crime in itself, but doing sex work in a public place can be called a crime.
He said that the woman has two children who needed her and if she was kept in custody against her will, it violated her fundamental right. The court ordered her release from the shelter home.
In February, the Mumbai Police raided a nearby hotel with fake customers, where the owner and manager allegedly kept women for the purpose of prostitution for the customers.
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