Constitution Section 23 — Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour

Part III — FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS — Right against Exploitation

Constitutional

Summary

Trading in human beings, forced labour, and similar practices like begar (unpaid work without choice) are banned. If anyone violates this ban, it is a crime that can be punished as per the law. However, the government can require people to perform compulsory service for public purposes, but it cannot discriminate based only on religion, race, caste, or class when doing so.

Official Text

(1) Traffic in human beings and begar and other similar forms of forced labour are prohibited and any contravention of this provision shall be an offence punishable in accordance with law.

(2) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from imposing compulsory service for public purposes, and in imposing such service the State shall not make any discrimination on grounds only of religion, race, caste or class or any of them.