July 1, 2025: HYDERABAD: Prajwala, a non-governmental organization based in Hyderabad that works to help victims of sex trafficking recover, has filed an appeal with the Telangana high court challenging a lower court order requiring the organization to accommodate a woman it claims is a trafficking suspect rather than 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 in opposition to an order that was issued on May 18 by Hyderabad's III additional chief metropolitan magistrate. 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.
"Activities of the brothel" “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 runs counter to the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act of 1956's goals and objectives. He stated, "Despite our objections, the magistrate issued this order." 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. Later, the state attorney said that the bench recalled the order that called the DGP and law secretary to the office.