Law Student's PIL Seeking Directions To Ensure Dignified Life For Sex Workers: Allahabad High Court Seeks UOI, State Govt Reply

The Allahabad High Court has issued a notice to the State government and the Union of India on a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) plea filed by a law student seeking directions to ensure dignified life standards for sex workers.

The bench of Justice Devendra Kumar Upadhyaya and Justice Shree Prakash Singh sought the replies of state and central governments on the plea moved by petitioner in person Jaya Pandey, who is a student at the University of Petroleum and Energy Studies

Before the Court, she sought direction to the Centre and the state government to ensure that the life of sex workers may be raised to dignified standards and they may be able to realize the rights like any other citizen under various laws relating to social welfare measures.

In this regard, she relied upon a document signed by Members-States, including India at an international convention known as the "Convention on the Elimination of all forms of Discrimination against Women". Amongst other Members States, India is also a signatory having signed the said covenant on 09th July 1993.

She also submitted that the fulfillment of goal as enunciated in Article 51 (c) of the Constitution of India, Union of India and State of U.P. should take appropriate steps to ensure that the covenant, as signed in the convention, is respected and adequate measures are taken to improve the conditions of life of the sex workers.

Article 7 of the said covenant was also referred to, according to which State Parties are required to take all appropriate measures to eliminate discrimination against women in political and public life.

Another Article relied upon by the petitioner was Article 11 (1) (e), according to which under the said covenant the State Parties are required to take appropriate measures to ensure inter alia that women are able to exercise and enjoy the same rights, particularly the right to social security in cases of unemployment, sickness, invalidity and old age and incapacity to work etc.

Further, Article 13 of the covenant provides that all the State Parties shall take all appropriate steps to eliminate discrimination against women in economic and social life particularly the right to family benefits, right to loan and financial credit/help and further, the right to participate in recreational activities, etc.

Against this backdrop, the Court directed the respondents to file their response to the writ petition within a period of four weeks. The matter was posted for further hearing after the expiry of the aforesaid period.

Case title - Jaya Pandey And Others v. Union Of India Thru. Chief Secy. Labour Deptt. New Delhi And Others

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