Penalty Info

Home / India / Slavery and forced labour

Slavery and forced labourPossibly — unconfirmed

Possibly — unconfirmed

Reported range, not yet confirmed against official text. Do not rely on this — awaiting confirmation.

Statutory range — reported, not yet confirmed

§ 145 — habitually importing, exporting, removing, buying, selling, trafficking or dealing in slavesPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 10 years or life
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

§ 146 — unlawful compulsory labourPossibly — unconfirmed

Imprisonment
0 (no mandatory prison) – 1 year
Fine
Fine (amount not stated in section)

0 = the law sets no minimum prison term. The court is not required to impose prison. Depending on the offence, jurisdiction, and case, it may instead impose a non-custodial sentence — e.g. a suspended sentence, community order / probation, a fine, or a discharge.

Source

Statute
Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 §§ 145–146
Official source
MyJudix reproduction of BNS text (not India Code)
Verification status
India Code could not be read directly; figures corroborated from two independent reproductions of the BNS text. Re-check against India Code before treating as VERIFIED.
Last verified
2026-10-19
Not legal advice. This range is the statutory penalty as written in the law — it is not “your sentence.” What is NOT accounted for here: Priors, plea, judicial discretion. If you face a real charge, consult a licensed lawyer in the relevant jurisdiction.