BNS Section 99 — Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc

CHAPTER V OF OFFENCES AGAINST WOMAN AND CHILD — Of offences against child

Criminal

Summary

Whoever buys, hires, or otherwise gets possession of any child, intending that the child will at some age be used for prostitution, illicit intercourse with any person, or any unlawful and immoral purpose — or knowing it is likely the child will be used for such a purpose — is punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term of not less than seven years and up to fourteen years, and is also liable to a fine.

Explanation 1 states that any prostitute, or any person who keeps or manages a brothel, who buys, hires, or otherwise obtains possession of a female under eighteen years of age, is presumed — until the contrary is proved — to have obtained possession of her with the intent that she be used for prostitution.

Explanation 2 states that the term illicit intercourse has the same meaning as given in section 98.

Official Text

Whoever buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of any child with intent that such child shall at any age be employed or used for the purpose of prostitution or illicit intercourse with any person or for any unlawful and immoral purpose, or knowing it to be likely that such child will at any age be employed or used for any such purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanation 1.—Any prostitute or any person keeping or managing a brothel, who buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of a female under the age of eighteen years shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have obtained possession of such female with the intent that she shall be used for the purpose of prostitution.

Explanation 2.— “Illicit intercourse” has the same meaning as in section 98.

Related Judgments

  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1309 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.11 p.291 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.5 p.522 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.6 p.280 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2025) Vol.3 p.1531 — Supreme Court of India (2025)
  • SC (2024) Vol.8 p.670 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2024) Vol.6 p.129 — Supreme Court of India (2024)
  • SC (2025) Vol.4 p.2730 — Supreme Court of India (2025)

Old <-> New Code Mapping

  • IPC §373 — Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc