Trafficking of person

Q: When did Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?

Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 143, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

In force From 01 Jul 2024 Act 45 of 2023 As on 14 Oct 2026

Act 45 of 2023 Ministry Home Affairs Enacted 25 Dec 2023 In force 01 Jul 2024 Cited by 1 provision

Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 deals with trafficking of person. Whoever, for the purpose of exploitation recruits, transports, harbours, transfers, or receives a person or persons, by--- (a) using threats; The Act came into force on 01 Jul 2024.

(1) Whoever, for the purpose of exploitation recruits, transports, harbours, transfers, or receives a person or persons, by---
(a) using threats; or
(b) using force, or any other form of coercion; or
(c) by abduction; or
(d) by practising fraud, or deception; or
(e) by abuse of power; or
(f) by inducement, including the giving or receiving of payments or benefits, in order to achieve the consent of any person having control over the person recruited, transported, harboured, transferred or received,
commits the offence of trafficking.
Explanation 1.---The expression "exploitation" shall include any act of physical exploitation or any form of sexual exploitation, slavery or practices similar to slavery, servitude, beggary or forced removal of organs.
Explanation 2.---The consent of the victim is immaterial in determination of the offence of trafficking.
(2) Whoever commits the offence of trafficking shall be punished with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than seven years, but which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to fine.
(3) Where the offence involves the trafficking of more than one person, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(4) Where the offence involves the trafficking of a child, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than ten years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(5) Where the offence involves the trafficking of more than one child, it shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall not be less than fourteen years, but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(6) If a person is convicted of the offence of trafficking of a child on more than one occasion, then such person shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine.
(7) When a public servant or a police officer is involved in the trafficking of any person then, such public servant or police officer shall be punished with imprisonment for life, which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder of that person's natural life, and shall also be liable to fine.
Section 143, The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 (Act 45 of 2023).

Cross-references

Extracted from the operative text of the enactments themselves. Every destination below exists in our corpus.

Referred to by 1

s. 199 Public servant disobeying direction under law

How this offence is classified

From the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023, which classifies every offence under the Sanhita. Cognizable means a police officer may arrest without warrant; bailable means bail is a matter of right rather than of the court's discretion. This section is classified 6 ways.

Offence	Punishment	Cognizable	Bailable	Triable by
Trafficking of person.	Rigorous imprisonment for not less than 7 years but which may extend to 10 years and fine.	Cognizable.	Non-bailable.	Court of Session.
Trafficking of more than one person.	Rigorous imprisonment for not less than 10 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and fine.	Cognizable.	Non-bailable.	Court of Session.
Trafficking of a child.	Rigorous imprisonment for not less than 10 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and fine.	Cognizable.	Non-bailable.	Court of Session.
Trafficking of more than one child.	Rigorous imprisonment for not less than 14 years but which may extend to imprisonment for life and fine.	Cognizable.	Non-bailable.	Court of Session.
Person convicted of offence of trafficking of child on more than one occasion.	Imprisonment for life which shall mean the remainder of that person's natural life and fine.	Cognizable.	Non-bailable.	Court of Session.
Public servant or a police officer involved in trafficking of child.	Imprisonment for life which shall mean the remainder of that person's natural life and fine.	Cognizable.	Non-bailable.	Court of Session.

The Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023

Questions about Section 143

What does Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita deal with?

Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is headed "Trafficking of person". Whoever, for the purpose of exploitation recruits, transports, harbours, transfers, or receives a person or persons, by--- (a) using threats;

Is Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita bailable?

Non-bailable, under the First Schedule to the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023.

Is Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita cognizable?

Cognizable. "Cognizable" means a police officer may arrest without warrant; "non-cognizable" that they may not. An offence under this section is triable by Court of Session.

How do I find court cases under Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita?

In judgments and charge sheets this section is written several ways, and each form finds a different set of orders. These search the full text of every order eCourtsIndia holds, best matches first: BNS 143, section 143 BNS, section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. People searching for it also type bns 143 1 in hindi and bns 143 3 in hindi. Each opens the full list of orders on eCourtsIndia, where it can be narrowed by court, year and outcome.

What should I read with Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, and has it changed?

1 other provision in this corpus refers back to it.

When did Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita come into force?

Section 143 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, cited as BNS 143, came into force on 01 Jul 2024, having been enacted on 25 Dec 2023. It is in force as at the date shown on this page.

Other sections of this Act

Source and method. Compiled from the enactments of Parliament and of the State legislatures as published on India Code, and republished together with commentary and other original matter under section 52(1)(q)(ii) of the Copyright Act, 1957. Structured, cross-referenced and maintained by eCourtsIndia. Text as in force on 14 Oct 2026. This page is not a substitute for legal advice.