Nagpur: The Supreme Court on Wednesday announced that police forces in all states and Union territories to treat sex workers with dignity and not to abuse them—physically or verbally.
The top court further directed that the police should neither interfere nor act against adult and consenting sex workers.
A bench of Justices L Nageswara Rao, BR Gavai and AS Bopanna said the constitutional protection that is given to all individuals in this country shall be kept in mind by the authorities who have a duty under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956.
The court added that any sex worker who is a victim of sexual assault should be provided with all facilities available which are to a survivor of sexual assault which includes immediate medical assistance. According to LiveLaw, the court directed that media should not publish their pictures or reveal their identity while reporting rescue operations and stated that the offence of voyeurism under section 354C of the IPC should be enforced if media publishes the pictures of sex workers with their clients.
