Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 · Chapter V: Of Offences against Woman and Child · Of offences against child
Section 99: Buying child for purposes of prostitution, etc
In plain words
Buying, hiring or otherwise obtaining a child, intending or knowing it is likely that the child will at any age be used for prostitution, illicit intercourse or any unlawful and immoral purpose, is punishable with at least seven years and up to fourteen years in prison, and a fine.
- A prostitute or brothel keeper who obtains a girl under eighteen years of age is presumed to intend her use for prostitution unless the contrary is proved.
A simplified explanation, prepared with AI assistance from the official text below and checked automatically against it for numbers and cross-references. The official text is the law and prevails over this summary. Not legal advice.
Official text
Whoever buys, hires or otherwise obtains possession of any child with intent that such child 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 child will at any age be employed or used for any such purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may extend to fourteen years, and shall also be liable to fine.
Explanation 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.
Explanation 2.— “Illicit intercourse” has the same meaning as in section 98.
Corresponding sections were matched by comparing the wording of both official texts, and for the IPC and BNS, also against a published correspondence table. Wording, punishments and structure often changed, so read both sections before relying on the match.
Source: India Code (indiacode.gov.in), the consolidated text published by the Legislative Department, Government of India. Text as updated on India Code on 25 August 2026. Words in square brackets [ ] were inserted or substituted by later amending Acts, and *** marks words omitted by an amendment. The amendment footnotes are not reproduced here. Official text on India Code.
Supreme Court judgments citing the section 99
No Supreme Court judgment in our database cites this section yet.