Thread by @barandbench

Justice L Nageswara Rao led bench hears a plea regarding lack of basic necessities and ration to sex workers

SC suggests states should consider providing ration to sex workers without any proof of identity

States ponder over the road map for its implementation #SupremeCourt

(Amicus Curiae) Adv Pijush K Roy: Centre and state governments should allow sex workers to open their bank accounts

ASG Rupinder Singh Suri for Centre: We have no hesitation in agreeing to the same.

Senior Adv Anand Grover: grateful centre has not taken an adversarial stand

Justice Nageswara Rao: we are glad that none of the states and Centre has taken an adversarial stand

By an order of Feb 2011 we held that sex workers have a right to live with dignity as they are human beings. A committee was constituted by this Court to study the various....

Justice Rao:... laws and conduct a study relating to conditions of sex workers. Three terms of reference were given, one of which pertains to rehabilitation of sex workers. After filing interim reports, a final report was submitted on Sept, 2016 by panel appointed by SC

Justice Rao: 3rd interim report by panel pertains to easing the existing rigors of identifying address without mentioning profession. Panel said sex workers who are citizens and vote shall not be denied voter I card because of her profession

Justice Rao: the report was accepted. We passed following directions. We find recommendations are good. They have difficulty in getting voters i card or opening bank accounts. We are of the opinion that they don't face these difficulties as they have same fundamental rights

Justice Rao: suggestions by panel in third interim report shall be taken seriously by centre and states. These suggestions be implemented expeditiously. In Sept 2016, the panel noted that sex workers had a lack of legal status since they are criminalized. They have...

Justice Rao: they have difficulty in getting documents due to lack of address. Subject of third report is subject matter of a bill pending in parliament. We are at this point concerned with points raised in this application

Justice Rao: we are concerned that sex workers can't access sry ration, cash transfers and other facilities due to lack of identity proof. Centre and states have made submissions. ASG RS Suri submitted that in principle the Centre does not have objection if states provide..

Justice Rao: amenities without insisting for identity proof. Maharashtra, Karnataka and WB have already initiated steps to provide dry ration without insisting on voter card etc. Other states have informed that there is no scheme providing for dry ration to he given...

Justice Rao: without proof of identity though there are other schemes to provide basic goods. Amicus Jayanti Bhushan submitted that the existence of schemes under which sex workers can be provided the amenities sought for in this application is not clear. He stated...

Justice Rao: problems in identification of sex workers should be solved by an order of this Court.

Justice Rao: Bhushan submitted that supervision of implementation of order by this Court for providing dry ration to sex workers should be monitored by this Court. Adv Pijush Roy submitted that sex workers should be permitted to open bank accounts without proof of identity...

Justice Rao: which would enable them to obtain any financial benefits sent by Centre or state. Senior Adv Grover appearing for applicants stated that there is a huge gap in identification of sex workers to claim reliefs enlisted in application. He states that states...

Justice Rao: have to work in tandem with NACO and Centre.

We are concerned at present with providing dry ration to sex workers for their survival. The problem stated is that majority of these sex workers are not in a position to avail benefits of various schemes of state ...

Justice Rao: and centre as they don't have proof of identity. This question was considered and on Sept 2011 directions were issued. Final report of panel deals with this under header of Rehabilitation. We direct state govt to provide dry ration to sex workers who are identified..

Justice Rao: by NACO and state committees. State government have to apprise this court in 4 weeks about implementation of this order and the number of sex workers benefitted.

Matter to be listed after 4 weeks.

SC to ASG Suri: Why don't you give a copy of the bill to the applicants?

ASG: the new bill has been perused by the Committee of Ministers on Sept 10. As soon as of its approved by Cabinet, I will place it before you

Matter now on October 28