What Is Constitution Of India Article 23?

Constitution Of India Article 23: Prohibition Of Traffic In Human Beings And Forced Labour

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

• (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.

Brief Detail

Article 23 ensures the prohibition of human trafficking, begar (forced labour without payment), and similar exploitative practices. However, it allows the State to impose compulsory service for public purposes, provided no discrimination is made on specific grounds.

Question

Q1: What does Article 23 prohibit?

A1: Article 23 prohibits human trafficking, begar, and other similar forms of forced labour.

Example

Example 1: Forcing someone to work without wages under coercion is a violation of Article 23.

Example 2: Imposing compulsory military service for all citizens during wartime, without discrimination, is permitted under Article 23.

Summary

Article 23 safeguards individuals from exploitation through human trafficking and forced labour while allowing for non-discriminatory compulsory services for public purposes.