NEW DELHI:
A little known law in Kashmir, the Public Prostitutes Registration Rules, 1921 makes the State the only one where where the ‘prostitution is legal.’
According to these rules, a prostitute can carry on her trade legally if she registers herself with the District Magistrate. She has to fill a simple application form, file it in person and pay Rs 5 as fee.
This law was given the go-ahead at the time of Maharja Hari Singh in February 12, 1921.
Long forgotten, the issue has been raised in a book which is a work of fiction. The book ‘Kashmir Storm’, has been written by Ajit Chak, who has worked in The Indian Express, The Pioneer and The Times of India.
This is a work of fiction and is based on the fact that a law passed in the 1920s under the Kashmir Rajas makes prostitution legal in the state of Kashmir. There have been several sex scandals and prostitution rackets in Kashmir.
While the attempt to raise this issue through fiction may seem strange, it seems this is the only way in which this issue can be raised as it would normally have come under the purview of the National Commission for Women (NCW).
The NCW, which normally takes up such issues, is helpless to do so as its mandate clearly stated that they cannot address any issue related to the state of Jammu and Kashmir.
”We cannot even write a letter to the Prime Minister or Home Minister regarding this as they will simply turn around and tell us that we have no jurisdiction to do so,” says an insider. (AGENCIES)
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