HC treats petition seeking lifting of ban on Ganga Jamuna as Public Interest Litigation

Nagpur: On Tuesday Nagpur Bench of the Bombay High Court treated as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) a petition filed by a social activist praying for the police to lift the ban from the Ganga Jamuna (GJ) area.

Mukesh Shahu, a social worker, has challenged the notification of the Commissioner of Police. Dated August 25, banning prostitution activities within a radius of about 200 meters of public places in the red light area built in the city.

A Division Bench of Justice Anil Pansare and Justice Sunil Shukre has observed that considering the issues covered therein. We are of the opinion that this petition and this stand of the petitioner, should be filed in the form of public interest litigation as he has claimed.

Take necessary steps for compliance

The bench asked the counsel for the petitioner Priti Phadke and Chandrashekhar Sakhare to take all necessary steps to comply with the rules of the Public Interest Litigation. The judges allowed him to amend the petition, including the prayer clause, before adjourning the hearing till November 17.

The petitioner has now argued that the arrest and harassment of these women from the area is criminal trespass. The petitioner has also said that it is a fundamental right of her to stay in these small rooms and she cannot be stopped from it at all. He has also said that his right to live in that area cannot be taken away at all. And where they live there cannot be any kind of raid.

Mukesh has also told that after this action of CP, hundreds of commercial sex workers (CSW) are left with no means of livelihood. He has also said that there is no reason for the sudden closure of this area. Which has been in existence for hundreds of years.

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