Report No. 64

Chapter 2

Historical Background

2.1. Brief history of the Act.-

The Suppression of Immoral Traffic Act is the first Central Act dealing with commercialised vice in a comprehensive manner, and has taken the place of several Provincial or State Acts1 that were operative on the subject in the various States. Occasion for passing a Central Act on the subject arose when the International convention dealing with immoral traffic in women and girls was signed in 1950. But, even in the absence of such a Convention, uniformity in this respect would have been desirable; and it is, therefore, convenient that the law is now contained in a Central Act.

1. See paras. 2.2 and 2.3, infra.