Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Title A name given to the resource Faculty Publications Book Chapter Faculty Publications- Book Chapter Dublin Core The Dublin Core metadata element set is common to all Omeka records, including items, files, and collections. For more information see, http://dublincore.org/documents/dces/. Creator An entity primarily responsible for making the resource Shahi, Bharvi; Srivastava, Shikhar Title A name given to the resource Sex Work and Caste Governance in India: Between Informal Regulation and Legal Apathy Date A point or period of time associated with an event in the lifecycle of the resource 01-01-2026 Source A related resource from which the described resource is derived Legal and Psychological Perspectives on Prostitution and Human Trafficking;pp.177-199 Identifier An unambiguous reference to the resource within a given context <a href="https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-5841-3.ch007" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://doi.org/10.4018/979-8-3373-5841-3.ch007</a> <br /><br /><a href="https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037102657?origin=resultslist" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/105037102657?origin=resultslist</a> Coverage The spatial or temporal topic of the resource, the spatial applicability of the resource, or the jurisdiction under which the resource is relevant Shahi B., Christ University, India; Srivastava S., National Law University, Judicial Academy, Assam, India Description An account of the resource Sex work in India occupies a paradoxical position tolerated in practice yet criminalized and morally condemned in law and society. However, this paradox is not merely a product of legal ambiguity; it is deeply entrenched in Indias historical caste hierarchies, gender norms, and systems of informal governance. This article critically interrogates the intersection of caste and sex work in India, focusing on how marginalized caste communities engaged in traditional and contemporary forms of sexual labor are governed not only by a punitive legal framework but, more insidiously, through caste-based informal regulation and entrenched social surveillance. The states neglect, combined with a moralized legal discourse, contributes to what this article terms legal apathy- a systemic failure to extend legal rights, protections, or recognition to sex workers, particularly those from oppressed caste locations. Copyright 2026, IGI Global Scientific Publishing. Copying or distributing in print or electronic forms without written permission of IGI Global Scientific Publishing is prohibited. Use of this chapter to train generative artificial intelligence (AI) technologies is expressly prohibited. The publisher reserves all rights to license its use for generative AI training and machine learning model development. Publisher An entity responsible for making the resource available IGI Global Relation A related resource ISBN: 979-833735843-7; 979-833735841-3; 979-833735842-0; Language A language of the resource English Type The nature or genre of the resource Book chapter Rights Information about rights held in and over the resource Restricted Access; Hardcopy may be available in the library Format The file format, physical medium, or dimensions of the resource online