Supreme Court recognises prostitution as ‘profession’

In a significant order recognising sex work as a 'profession', the Supreme Court has said police should neither interfere nor take criminal action against adult and consenting sex workers.

“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,” the apex court said.