Prostitution Redefined in Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act - Vires
By
A. N. Saha
The old Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls Act, 1956 after Act 44 of 1986 with effect from Aug. 20, 1986 has emerged under the new name "Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act". The entire fulcrum of the enactment stands on the definition of the word "prostitution". The Suppression of Immoral Traffic in Women and Girls (Amendment) Act 44 of 1986 has substituted a new definition for the expression "prostitution". The new definition in S.2(f) stands as under :
2(f). "Prostitution" means the sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes and the expression "prostitute" shall be construed accordingly.
The old definition stood as under.
2(f). "Prostitution" means the act of a female offering her body for promiscuous sexual intercourse for hire, whether in money or in kind, and whether offered immediately or otherwise and the expression "prostitute" shall be constr ....