Image Credit: LiveLaw
The Madurai Bench of Madras High Court recently expressed shock after a petitioner, claiming to be a practising lawyer, filed a plea seeking protection to run a brothel in Tamil Nadu’s Kanyakumari district. Advocate Raja Murrugan sought to quash the FIR lodged against him, arguing that his actions were based on adult consensual sex rights. The court, however, dismissed his petition and imposed a fine of ₹10,000.
The bench, led by Justice B Pugalendhi, strongly disapproved of Murrugan’s defense, citing that he had misunderstood the context of the Supreme Court’s judgment in the Budhadev case, which aimed to prevent trafficking and ensure the rehabilitation of sex workers. The court emphasized that running a brothel remains unlawful despite voluntary sex work not being illegal.
In his petition, Murrugan disclosed that his trust offered services such as consensual sex between adults, counselling, and therapeutic oil baths for individuals over 18. He argued that the police crackdown was against a Supreme Court order. However, the court clarified that the Supreme Court’s order was intended to create conditions for sex workers to continue their work with dignity or seek rehabilitation, not to protect brothels.
The Additional Public Prosecutor informed the court that Murrugan, a B-Tech graduate, holds a Bar Council Identity with an enrollment number. Still, they were unable to verify his law degree. The court demanded Murrugan present his enrollment certificate and law degree to verify his legal education and bar association membership.
The court also criticized the Bar Council for allowing graduates from unreputed law colleges to practice, stating that the reputation of advocates is declining. Justice Pugalendhi urged the Bar Council to ensure that only graduates from reputable institutions are enrolled as advocates.
The Madurai Bench of the Madras High Court dismissed Murrugan’s request for protection to run a brothel and ordered the trial court to complete the trial within six months. The Bar Council was directed to verify the genuineness of Murrugan’s law certificates and take appropriate action.
(with inputs from NDTV)
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