Hyderabad NGO worker moves Telangana HC against order to house sex trafficking accused; cites risk to victim safety, seeks legal protection

HYDERABAD: Prajwala, a Hyderabad-based NGO working for rehabilitation of sex trafficking victims, has approached the Telangana high court challenging a lower court order directing the NGO to accommodate a woman it claims is a trafficking accused and not a victim.It also sought the court’s intervention to direct officials to ensure anyone accused of trafficking is not treated as a victimand housed in any rescue home.The petition was filed against a May 18 order by the III additional chief metropolitan magistrate of Hyderabad.Prajwala’s advocate Deepak Misra said such lapses made a mockery of rehabilitation efforts and endangered victims while urging the court to free the NGO from accommodating the woman.‘Brothel activities’“She was found to be an organiser of brothel activities and an accused at SR Nagar police station for offences relating to human trafficking. Sending such a person to our rescue home runs contrary to the objects and purposes of the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. The magistrate passed this order despite our objections,” he said.The NGO counsel alleged that some individuals accused of trafficking were earlier housed in rescue shelters alongside survivors. When the bench wanted to know the state stance on the issue, it found that no one was there to answer its queries. The bench, while expressing its displeasure, posted the case to July 14.The state counsel later claimed that the bench recalled the order summoning the DGP and law secretary.