PUBLIC AT LARGE Vs. STATE OF MAHARASHTRA

JUDGEMENT

(1.) THIS Court suo motu took notice of an Article that appeared in the daily Indian Express dated 13th January, 1996. The said report disclosed a very shocking and alarming state of affairs regarding sex workers operating in the city of Mumbai. The report indicated that minor girls were illegally confined and were forced to be sex workers. As per the said newspaper report :

(2.) BASED on the said report the Court passed an order on 17th January, 1996 and issued notices to the State of Maharashtra through its Chief Secretary, Commissioner of Police, Mumbai, Municipal Commissioner for Municipal Corporation of Greater Bombay. The noticees, who were joined as respondents, were directed to show cause why appropriate actions under sections 366, 366-A of the Indian Penal Code and sections 5 and 6 of the Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Woman and Girls Act, 1956 were not being taken. Certain other directions were also given as it was alleged that girls who were rescued from brothels were not provided with any Police protection by the Police Authorities and in that view of the matter the Court directed that the same needs to be immediately investigated by the 1st and 2nd respondents. Further directions were given as under :-

(3.) ON the basis of the said directions, raids were carried out and about 473 minor girls were rescued from brothel houses as per the statement of the learned Advocate-General. On 7th February 1966, considering the serious allegations with regard to the release of the rescued minor girls by interested persons and with regard to their rehabilitation, following directions were given :-