Kochi : Moral policing is on the rise in Aluva in the aftermath of repeated incidents of law-and-order violations. The trend of small groups conducting surveillance and policing at night intensified after an attack on a youth in Sept by antisocial elements left him with multiple fractures to his ribs and hands.
Jamal said Supreme Court has specifically recognised that sex workers are entitled to equal protection of the law and dignity under Article 21. Therefore, even assuming, without admitting, that any woman is engaged in sex work, such status by itself does not authorise members of the public to harass them,” Jamal said.
If any person genuinely suspects that an offence has been committed, the proper course is to approach the police and allow the competent authorities to investigate in accordance with the law,” the lawyer said. An alleged brutal assault and robbery in Sept, purportedly connected to transgender sex workers, had further worsened the situation, they said. A senior officer with the Ernakulam Rural police said they were aware of the issue and that action would be taken against anyone indulging in moral policing. Padmanabhan, however, said police patrolling needed to be strengthened and that a heightened police presence could indeed bring a change.
“Merely being a woman present on a public road at night does not constitute an offence. Private individuals have no authority to conduct their own investigation, interrogate women, threaten them, publicly brand them as prostitutes or impose their own version of ‘moral policing’. “The court has also directed that sex workers should not be harassed, victimised or verbally or physically abused. After the videos went viral, several users took to social media to criticise the actions of these individuals and condemn moral policing. Meanwhile, residents say that the core of the issue is the lack of a strong police presence, leading people to feel unsafe at night in Aluva town.