Hyderabad, Jul 7: Supporting the Law Commission's recommendation on allowing gambling and betting in sports, retired Supreme Court Judge N Santosh Hegde has 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 on Thursday 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 told PTI. "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 (where prohibition was in place). Government loses excise duty, the vice will continue, you can't control it. These are certain things which can't be controlled by law", he said. Similarly, illegal gambling is going on in the country. Making it legitimate and by controlling it, 70-75% 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 has to be legalised. It's going on everywhere. What's the big idea of..(keeping it illegal). It should be legalised".
"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.
These are certain vices which cannot be abolished by the state, he said. Otherwise, it would then go on in an illegal manner. Better than that was to have control over the system. "Which is the city or the state where there is no prostitution? We are just closing our eyes and saying it's not there. And in places like Mumbai, there are certain areas recognised by the Government where prostitution continues. Therefore, morality can't be controlled by law. It can only be controlled by religion and religious leaders", he said.
Welcoming the move Dr Arathi Krishna told coastaldigst.com that Indians stranded in any foreign country can utilize this facility. "Initially, I was approached by Mr Zakaria and Mr Sheik who wanted chartered flights to help their employees fly back to India. I asked them to write to the Indian Ambassador in Saudi Araia Mr Ausaf Sayeed. Then I requested the ambassador to forward the request to Joint Secretary Dr Nagendra Prasad, who is in charge of gulf division in the Ministry of External Affairs, and then to Secretary on charge of Gulf and then I requested Secretary of Economic Relations Mr T S Tirumurti who was also in charge of Gulf to follow this up," she said. 
Comments
Effect of old age.
All religions respect tradition of marriage universally, if same activity goes without bond humanity,respect,responsibility will derail in society,it is already tested issue in US and Europe,because of that their children lavarish and parents in ashramas,by leagalising crime we are encouraging society to become a criminals it never suit Indian culture.
The crime is crime.
If we cannot control it, it is our problem,
we can not make the crime non-crime.
Therefore there is no chance to make those a legal.
the public, citizens, governments should tackle the issue.
BETTER fight to give jobs to youth and get money and live a happy family life instead of legaizing gambling and wasting the money and playing with the girls (find them jobs sir)... Hope you will not agree this trail comes in your own house. ofcourse many in US doesnt know their FATHER?
Western Countries still unable to find control even after it was legalised... Please study before you give permission... There are many children who are unable to identify their parents name while giving admission in their school.... Better dont inviite such things to india... sir.
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