This writ petition under Article 32 of the Constitution of India at the instance of an Advocate was filed by way of a Public Interest Litigation seeking issuance of certain directions, to look into issues of Red Light areas and forced prostitution from a law enforcement perspective; to rescue victims of commercial sexual exploitation and provide them with proper medical aid, shelter, education and training in various disciplines of life so as to enable them to choose a more dignified way of life; and to look into issues pertaining to dedication of young girls as Devadasi and Jogin.

The petition brought out the fact that poor parents on account of acute poverty were selling their children and young girls hoping that their children would be engaged only in household duties or manual labour. However, pimps - brokers - keepers either purchase or kidnap them by deceitful means and unjustly and forcibly inveigle them into 'flesh trade'.

The Supreme Court (SC) held that this matter is one of great importance warranting a comprehensive and searching analysis and requiring a humanistic rather than a purely legalistic approach from different angles. The questions involved cause considerable anxiety to the Court in reaching a satisfactory solution in eradicating such sexual exploitation of children. The court stated that this malady is not only a social but also a socio-economic problem and, therefore, the measures to be taken in that regard should be more preventive rather than punitive.

The SC examined the Constitutional provisions pertaining to right against exploitation; traffic in human beings and rights of children; principles enumerated by the Declaration of the Rights of the Child, 1959.

Considering all aspects of the matter before it, the SC issued the following directions inter alia to the State Governments and Union Territories:

1. 1. Direct concerned law enforcing authorities to take appropriate and speedy action under the existing laws in eradicating child prostitution.

2. 2. Take steps in providing adequate and rehabilitative homes.

3. 3. Set up separate Advisory Committee consisting of relevant government officials, sociologists, criminologists, members of the women/ child welfare/ voluntary social organizations to make suggestions for eradicating child prostitution and the devdasi and jogin tradition; and measures for care, protection, treatment, development and rehabilitation of victims.