In a landmark decision, the Telangana High Court has issued a clear directive to the Director General of Police: appoint specialized officers to handle all investigations related to cases under the Immoral Traffic (Prevention) Act (PITA) of 1956. This crucial mandate must be implemented within the next four weeks, underscoring the court’s commitment to proper legal procedures.
Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti delivered the ruling on Monday, which also saw the quashing of a First Information Report (FIR) that had been lodged by the Punjagutta police in Hyderabad. The FIR, which invoked PITA provisions, was found to be procedurally flawed because the Act explicitly requires an officer of Inspector rank or above to both register and investigate such cases. Instead, a Sub-Inspector from the Punjagutta police had taken charge of the investigation in June, following a tip-off about an alleged brothel operating under the guise of a spa.
The petitioner, a homemaker who was among the accused, successfully argued that the case against them should be dismissed. Her petition highlighted that the PITA provisions unequivocally stipulate that only a ‘special officer,’ specifically appointed for this purpose, possesses the jurisdiction and authority to probe such sensitive matters. The court concurred, emphasizing that the Sub-Inspector lacked the legal power to register or investigate the case, thus invalidating the FIR.