Government ratified the international convention for suppression of immoral traffic in persons and exploitation of the prostitution. Under Article 23 of the convention, traffic in human beings is prohibited and any contravention of the prohibition is an offence punishable under law. The Central Government enacted an Act called as Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956. Section 3 of the said Act deals with punishment for keeping a brothel, allowing the premises to be used as a brothel. Section 4 deals with punishment for living on the earnings of prostitution. Under Section 23, the State Government may by notification in the official gazette, make rules for carrying out the purpose of the said Act. It is stated that the Government of A.P. issued G.O.Ms.No.1, dated 3.1.2003, combating trafficking of women and children for commercial sexual exploitation. Rule 8 relates to rehabilitation and relief fund, while Rule 9 relates to reviewing the activities of the District Committees in achieving the required inter departmental/multi-sectoral co-ordination. The State Level Co-ordination committee shall meet once in three months to review the situation relating to trafficking and the implementation of measures for rescue, rehabilitation, reintegration and mainstreaming of the victims of trafficking. But unfortunately the said meeting was never conducted during the years 2004-2008. In spite of representations, no such meetings were conducted in accordance with G.O.Ms.No.1, dated 3.1.2003. Hence, the present writ petition came to be filed.
