Part III · Right against Exploitation

Article 23 Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour.

This article bans traffic in human beings and forced labour in any form. No one can be made to work without pay, and bonded labour is illegal. The State may require compulsory service for a public purpose, such as during an emergency. It must not impose that service by religion, caste, or class.

1. (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. (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.