Andhra Pradesh: A step in the right direction from the ADGP of Police, CID,

[Guest guest]

Dear all

We are posting a circular memo sent by the Addl Director General of Police to

all the Superintendents of Police and The Commissioners of Police in Andhra

Pradesh. This, we feel is a step in the right direction towards decriminalizing

sex work, which would surely result in restoration of human rights, as well as

assist immensely in our fight against HIV/AIDS.

R. Meera

Women's Initiatives (WINS)

Tirupati

E-mail: <rmeera102@...>

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Office of the Addl. Director Genl. of Police, C.I.D., A.P ., Hyderabad

Dt:19-4-2003. C.No.21DIG/WPC/CID/2003. CIRCULAR MEMO

Sub: Trafficking of women and children -Certain instructions -Reg

Ref: C.No.21/SP(WPC)/CID.2002 Dt: 21-9-2002 of Addl. DGP, CID, AP Hyd,

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In the meeting of the State Co-ordination Committee on Trafficking of women

children held on 3-2-2003 in the chambers of Chief Secretary, it was pointed out

that majority of the cases booked were against the victims / sex workers U/s (4)

of ITP Act and not against the traffickers.

Sec. (4) of ITP Act states that any person living on the earning of the

prostitution of any other. person is liable for the offence under this section

and not the victim who is indulging in prostitution for her own living. Thus the

victim women cannot be booked under section (4) of the ITPA. Like-wise it was

already pointed out in the memo C.No.21/SP(WPC)/CID/2002, Dt: 21-09-2002 of

Addl. DGP, CID, AP, Hyderabad, that cases against women victims of sexual

exploitation should not be booked U/s.(8) of ITPA for soliciting and only pimps/

organisers / Traffickers should be booked.

Inspite of the instructions issued cases are being booked ,against victims U/s.

8 of ITP Act by some unit officers. It should also be borne in mind that during

any raids on a brothel house, if a minor girl is found a victim, a case should

also be booked under rape ie., 376 IPC against the male customers and

traffickers, organizers and pimps.

Hence, all the Supdts. Of police and Commissioners of Police are instructed not

to book repeat not to book the victim women for soliciting. Our endeavour should

always be to bring the traffickers and organizers to book. If, in future, any

cases are booked against the women for soliciting, the explanation of the

concerned officers be called for and action initiated against them. All Ss.P and

Cs..P will acknowledge the receipt of this memo.

Sd.,

'for ADDL. DIRECTOR GENL. OF POLICE. C.l.D., A.P., HYDERABAD.

TO

All Supdts. Of Police, A.P, All Commissioners of Police, A.P. State

Copy to Principal Secretary, Home Department, Govt. of A.P., Hyderabad

for information