Article 23 of Constitution of India – Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
Article 23 of Constitution of India deals with Prohibition of traffic in human beings and forced labour
Original Text of Article 23 of Constitution of India
(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.
Questions related to Article 23 of Constitution of India
Article 23 prohibits human trafficking, begar (forced labour), and any similar forms of forced work. It ensures that no one is exploited or made to work against their will under the Constitution of India.
Yes! Unlike many other Articles of Indian Constitution that apply to State action, Article 23 also applies to private individuals, making it a powerful tool to combat exploitation.
The article does allow the State to impose compulsory service (like military or civic duties), but this must not discriminate based on religion, race, caste, or class. This balance is often explained in judgments on Indian Kanoon.
Laws like the Bonded Labour System (Abolition) Act, 1976 help enforce the rights under Article 23. You can find related enforcement cases and rulings on Indian Kanoon that interpret this article of the Indian Constitution.
Because it directly addresses human dignity and freedom from exploitation, which are core to the Indian Constitution. It ensures that economic need is not used as a justification for forced labour or trafficking.
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