------------------------------------------------------------------------------ Documented by Goa Desc Resource Centre Ph:2252660 Website: www.goadesc.org Email: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Press Clippings on the web: http://www.goadesc.org/mem/ ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Deport outside commercial sex workers to home State: HC ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- The Panjim Bench of the Bombay High Court has directed that the 250 cubicles used for carrying out the sex trade at Baina, Vasco be closed, and that the commercial sex workers brought in from outside the State be deported back to their home State.
The division bench of the High Court comprising Justice F I Rebello and Justice P V Hardas has admitted the petition filed by "Savera", a group of residents of the Mormugao Municipal Council concerning the `red light area' at Baina as well as the plight of the commercial sex workers.In its judgement, the court has directed the District Collector of the Baina district to take steps along with other officers concerned to close the 250 cubicles used for carrying on the sex trade.
In addition, if the construction of these cubicles are illegal, and on government land or land belonging to local authorities, then steps have to be taken to evict the illegal occupants and demolish the structures in accordance with law.The High Court has observed that as the commercial sex workers are being brought into the State from outside, the Goa government is not bound to rehabilitate them except to the extent provided by specific directions in the Supreme Court judgements.
The High Court has directed that these workers be deported to the State from where they came and that the Goa State Commission for Women along with the National Commission for Women take steps to rehabilitate them there with the assistance of the respective State government.
The bench has directed the State government to take steps based on the report of the Justice Kamat Inquiry Committee appointed by the National Commission for Women to the extent that is within its jurisdiction and submit a compliance report.Among other recommendations, the Committee has recommended that the State government make a clear statement of the need to evict the women in prostitution, and should displacement be inevitable, the government has to provide appropriate rehabilitation measures vis a vis shelter, livelihood, health facilities and vocational assistance.
It has also recommended that a survey be done to find out if the sex workers want to go back to their respective States.The State government has been ordered to implement the Apex Court judgement in Gaurav Jain vs Union of India and ORS to the extent it has not yet been implemented. The Apex court had issued various directions including setting up of a State committee, local committee, advisory committee, monitoring committee, child development and care centre, service facilities and institutional care.
The State government has been directed to take adequate steps to prevent the commercial sex workers from being brought into the State on a contract basis as has been noted by the Justice Kamat Commission. The National Commission for women has been directed to file a report to the High Court as to what steps they have taken for implementing the recommendations of the Justice Kamat (retd) Commission. All the concerned parties have been directed to submit a compliance report to the HIgh Court within nine months. -------------------------------------- HERALD 3/10/03 page 1 -------------------------------------
======================================= GOA DESC RESOURCE CENTRE Documentation + Education + Solidarity 11 Liberty Apts., Feira Alta, Mapusa, Goa 403 507 Tel: 2252660 mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] website: www.goadesc.org ---------------------------------------------------------------------- Working On Issues Of Development & Democracy =======================================
##########################################################################
# Send submissions for Goanet to [EMAIL PROTECTED] # # PLEASE remember to stay on-topic (related to Goa), and avoid top-posts #
# More details on Goanet at http://joingoanet.shorturl.com/ # # Please keep your discussion/tone polite, to reflect respect to others #
##########################################################################
