Don't amount to Sexual Activity: HC asks Govt to not ban Cross-gender massage

On Friday, Delhi High Court asked Delhi Government to refrain from taking any action in connection with a ban on cross-gender massages in the city, observing that such services don’t simply indicate the existence of sexual activity.

The remark was made by Justice Rekha Palli who was told by senior counsel Rahul Mehra, appearing for Delhi Government, that the policy was framed after due deliberation to stop sexual activities at such centres.

The court, which was hearing a batch of petitions challenging the prohibition on cross-gender massages, was urged by the senior advocate to allow the policy, which has now taken the form of a guideline.

He asked the court to allow the policy to remain in force for some time and highlighted that cross-gender massages are not permitted at several places, including five-star hotels.

However, the judge observed, “Just because it is a cross-gender massage, doesn’t mean that it is sexual activity.” “You ask your people to hold their hands. I’m not saying that illegal activities you shouldn’t stop,” she added.

Delhi Government counsel said that the authorities will only act against illegal activities. The court adjourned hearing on the petitions till later this month.

In September, one of the petitioners, Association of Wellness Ayurveda & Spa, had told the court that the ban on cross-gender massages was unconstitutional for being in violation of Article 19(1)(g) of the

Constitution and assuming prostitution to be only in the “heterosexual domain” is illogical.

(Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the LatestLaws staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.)

Source Link