Santosh Hegde for legalising prostitution

New Delhi: Supporting the Law Commission’s recommendation on allowing gambling and betting in sports, retired Supreme Court Judge N Santosh Hegde on Friday even favoured legalising prostitution, saying vices cannot be abolished by the state. “A person who thinks vices can be abolished by law is living in a fool’s paradise,” said the former Solicitor General of India. The Law Commission had recommended that gambling and betting in sports be allowed as regulated activities taxable under the direct and indirect tax regimes and used as a source for attracting foreign direct investment (FDI).

“It’s a very good recommendation,” Hegde said adding, “There are certain vices which cannot be controlled by law and any attempt to control such vices will lead to illegal systems developing. We have experienced it earlier when there was prohibition. There is illicit liquor production there. Government loses excise duty, the vice will continue, you can’t control it.” Similarly, illegal gambling is going on in the country. Making it legitimate and by controlling it, 70-75 per cent of illegal activities will stop, the former Karnataka Lokayukta said.

“But certain amount of control is absolutely necessary”. Asked if he thought prostitution should also be legalised, Hegde said: “It (prostitution) has become a regular profession now. It should be legalised and people (engaged in prostitution) should be licensed. Then alone there will be control over the system”, Hegde said.