Sex workers cannot use law to stop eviction from brothel: SC

New Delhi, June 10: The Supreme Court on Friday said that sex workers even though not caught or convicted for immoral trafficking could not take the shelter of law to resist their eviction from a brothel. “If notice had to be given (to every occupant of brothel) then the implementation of the provision of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act would be impossible”, said the apex court vacation bench comprising Justice Piki Chandra Ghose and Justice Amitava Roy as it rejected the plea that sex workers be served notice before being evicted from the brothel.  The bench said: “Such an interpretation (of Section 18 of the Act) would be absurd, illogical, unrealistic, impractical and would defeat the purpose of law.” The court’s observation came as counsel Kamini Jaiswal appearing for the petitioners — all residing in a brothel in Delhi — read Section 18 which says that a magistrate will issue a notice as to why a place allegedly used as a brothel or for immoral trafficking should not be attached or vacated. “Do you think that all the occupants of the place that has been directed to be evicted by the subordite court as well as the High Court should be given a separate notice,” the court asked Jaiswal as it junked the plea by the occupants. As Jaiswal read to the court the provisions of the Act, the bench observed: “Do you suggest that the persons who were convicted under the Act can get any relief from this court?” (IANS)