Prostitution – A Legal Analysis

Author – Haripriya S, Student at SRM Institute of Science and Technology

Best Citation – Haripriya S, Prostitution –A Legal Analysis, ILE JUDICIAL AND LEGAL REVIEW, 1 (1) of 2023, Pg. 14-18, ISBN – 978-81-961120-0-4.

Introduction

Prostitution  is the oldest profession in India. A common misconception is  that prostitution is illegal in India, rather prostitution is legal but prostitution, owning and running a brothel is illegal. Mumbai, Delhi and Kolkata are the biggest cities in India where brothels operate illegally. The  following activitiesare punishable under current law: providing prostitution in public places, engaging in prostitution in hotels, owning a brothel prostitution ,enabling prostitution by arranging for a sex worker, Arrange sex with a client. Currently, prostitution is legalized in Austria, some Australian states, New Zealand, Canada, Belgium and Brazil. In India, prostitution is not specifically illegal or regulated. Related work such as owning or working in a brothel, prostitution and organized sex work is made illegal by the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act 1956 (ITPA), colloquially known as  SITA  (hereafter  the same). In this law, prostitution is called “sexual exploitation”. However, the law does not recognize men who have taken up  prostitution.  Prostitutes often need health care because of the stigma associated with prostitution. This includes unwanted pregnancy, HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases among prostitutes. Thus,  regulation of prostitution and brothels helps curb this menace