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SC Mandates Consent of Adult Sex Workers as Primary Factor for Rehabilitation Under ITPA

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
30 Jun 2026
~2 min
Source: The Hindu
Key Data:May 29, 2026Section 17, ITPA, 1956Budhadev Karmaskar (2022)
Bodies:Supreme Court of IndiaDurbar Mahila Samanway Committee
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.Supreme Court judgment (May 29, 2026) in Prajwala vs Union of India mandates consent-based rehabilitation for adult sex workers.

2.The Court rejected paternalistic assumptions under Section 17 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA).

3.The verdict draws upon the 2022 Budhadev Karmaskar judgment and requires magistrates to conduct a threshold inquiry on age, consent, and individual circumstances.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

The Supreme Court has ruled that the consent of adult sex workers must be the primary consideration before any rehabilitation or protective custody order under the ITPA. This landmark judgment separates trafficking from consensual adult sex work, reinforcing the rights and dignity of voluntary sex workers and preventing coercive state interventions.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Case NamePrajwala vs Union of India
Judgment DateMay 29, 2026
Key Legal ProvisionSection 17, ITPA, 1956
Previous Landmark JudgmentBudhadev Karmaskar (2022)
BenchJustices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan
Key Petitioner AdvocateSenior Advocate Aparna Bhat

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Case Name: Prajwala vs Union of India
  • ›Judgment Date: May 29, 2026
  • ›Target this Data: Judgment date: May 29, 2026; Case: Prajwala vs Union of India
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Supreme Court of India (Bench: Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Section 17 of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 (ITPA)

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Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Which section of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956 was the focus of the Supreme Court judgment in Prajwala vs Union of India (2026)?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Supreme Court judgment in Prajwala vs Union of India (2026):

1. The judgment mandates that consent of adult sex workers must be the primary consideration for rehabilitation.

2. The Court upheld the 'one-size-fits-all' approach under Section 17 of the ITPA.

3. The judgment draws upon the principles of the 2022 Budhadev Karmaskar judgment.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

On which date was the Supreme Court judgment in Prajwala vs Union of India delivered?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What is the primary objective of the 'Victim Protection Plan' mentioned in the Supreme Court judgment?

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