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IPC, 1860
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IPCChapter XVISection 373
Section373

Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc

AI Assist

Summary

Whoever buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of a person under eighteen, intending or knowing it likely that the person will be used for prostitution, illicit intercourse or any unlawful or immoral purpose, can be punished with imprisonment up to ten years and a fine. A prostitute or brothel-keeper who obtains a female under eighteen is presumed to have intended her use for prostitution unless proved otherwise.

Example

Priya runs a small brothel and pays someone to bring a 17-year-old girl to work there. Under this section she is presumed to have obtained the girl for prostitution and can be punished with up to ten years imprisonment and a fine unless she proves otherwise.

Bare Act

Enacted text

Whoever buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of any person under the age of eighteen years with intent that such person 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 person will at any age be employed or used for any such purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.

Explanations

(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.

(2) “Illicit intercourse” has the same meaning as in section 372.

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XVI

Chapter XVI

Of Offences Affecting Life

In this chapter

  • 299Culpable homicide
  • 300Murder
  • 301Culpable homicide by causing death of person other than person whose death was intended
  • 302Punishment for murder
  • 303Punishment for murder by life-convict
  • 304Punishment for culpable homicide not amounting to murder
  • 304ACausing death by negligence
  • 304BDowry death
  • 305Abetment of suicide of child or insane person
  • 306Abetment of suicide
  • 307Attempt to murder
  • 308Attempt to commit culpable homicide
  • 309Attempt to commit suicide
  • 310Thug
  • 311Punishment
  • 312Causing miscarraige
  • 313Causing miscarriage without woman’s consent
  • 314Death caused by act done with intent to cause miscarriage
  • 315Act done with intent to prevent child being born alive or to cause it to die after birth
  • 316Causing death of quick unborn child by act amounting to culpable homicide-
  • 317Exposure and abandonment of child under twelve years, by parent or person having care of it
  • 318Concealment of birth by secret disposal of dead body
  • 319Hurt
  • 320Grievous hurt
  • 321Voluntarily causing hurt
  • 322Voluntarily causing grievous hurt
  • 323Punishment for voluntarily causing hurt
  • 324Voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means
  • 325Punishment for voluntarily causing grievous hurt
  • 326Voluntarily causing grievous hurt by dangerous weapons or means
  • 326AVoluntarily causing grievous hurt by use of acid, etc. 1
  • 326BVoluntarily throwing or attempting to throw acid, etc. 1
  • 327Voluntarily causing hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
  • 328Causing hurt by means of poison, etc., with intent to commit and offence
  • 329Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort property, or to constrain to an illegal act
  • 330Voluntarily causing hurt to extort confession or to compel restoration of property
  • 331Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to extort confession, or to compel restoration of property
  • 332Voluntarily causing hurt to deter public servant from his duty
  • 333Voluntarily causing grievous hurt to deter public servant from his duty
  • 334Voluntarily causing hurt on provocation
  • 335Voluntarily causing grievous hurt on provocation
  • 336Act endangering life or personal safety of others
  • 337Causing hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others
  • 338Causing grievous hurt by act endangering life or personal safety of others
  • 339Wrongful restraint
  • 340Wrongful confinement
  • 341Punishment for wrongful restraint
  • 342Punishment for wrongful confinement
  • 343Wrongful confinement for three or more days
  • 344Wrongful confinement for ten or more days
  • 345Wrongful confinement of person for whose liberation writ has been issued
  • 346Wrongful confinement in secret
  • 347Wrongful confinement to extort property, or constrain to illegal act
  • 348Wrongful confinement to extort confession, or compel restoration of property
  • 349Force
  • 350Criminal force
  • 351Assault
  • 352Punishment for assault or criminal force otherwise than on grave provocation
  • 353Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty
  • 354Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty
  • 354ASexual harassment and punishment for sexual harassment 1
  • 354BAssault or use of criminal force to woman with intent to disrobe 1
  • 354CVoyeurism 1
  • 354DStalking 1
  • 355Assault or criminal force with intent to dishonour person, otherwise than on grave provocation
  • 356Assault or criminal force in attempt to commit theft of property carried by a person
  • 357Assault or criminal force in attempting wrongfully to confine a person
  • 358Assault or criminal force on grave provocation
  • 359Kidnapping
  • 360Kidnapping from India
  • 361Kidnapping from lawful guardianship
  • 362Abduction
  • 363Punishment for kidnapping
  • 363AKidnapping or maiming a minor for purposes of begging
  • 364Kidnapping or abducting in order to murder
  • 364AKidnapping for ransom, etc
  • 365Kidnapping or abducting with intent secretly and wrongfully to confine person
  • 366Kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage, etc
  • 366AProcreation of minor girl
  • 366BImportation of girl from foreign country
  • 367Kidnapping or abducting in order to subject person to grievous hurt, slavery, etc
  • 368Wrongfully concealing or keeping in confinement, kidnapped or abducted person
  • 369Kidnapping or abducting child under ten years with intent to steal from its person
  • 370Trafficking of person 1
  • 370AExploitation of a trafficked person 1
  • 371Habitual dealing in slaves
  • 372Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etc
  • 373Buying minor for purposes of prostitution, etc
  • 374Unlawful compulsory labour
  • 375Rape 1
  • 376Punishment for rape 1
  • 376APunishment for rape on woman under twelve years of age 2
  • 376BSexual intercourse by husband upon his wife during separation
  • 376CSexual intercourse by person in authority 1
  • 376DPunishment for gang rape on woman under twelve years of age 2
  • 376EPunishment for repeat offenders 1
  • 377Unnatural offences
Previous · Section 372Selling minor for purposes of prostitution, etcNext · Section 374Unlawful compulsory labour