Penal Code · 2021 Revised Edition · Chapter XVI
Section 372
Official textFrom Attorney General's Chambers, unchanged
Whoever sells, lets to hire or otherwise disposes of any person under the age of 18 years -
with intent that such person 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 person will at any age be employed or used for such purpose, shall be punished with imprisonment for a term not exceeding 30 years and whipping with not less than 12 strokes.
Explanation 1 -
When a female under the age of 18 years is sold, let for hire or otherwise disposed of to a prostitute or to any person who keeps or manages a brothel, the person so disposing of such female shall, until the contrary is proved, be presumed to have disposed of her with the intent that she shall be used for the purpose of prostitution.
Explanation 2 -
For the purposes of this section, "illicit intercourse"
means sexual intercourse between persons not united by marriage or by any union or tie which, though not amounting to a marriage, is recognised by the personal law or custom of the community to which they belong or, where they belong to different communities, of both such communities, as constituting between them a quasi-marital relation.
Chapter XVII
Chapter XVIII
Offences Relating to Documents, False Documents and Currency Notes and Bank Notes
Chapter XIX
Criminal Breach of Contracts of Service
Chapter XX
Offences Relating to Marriage
Chapter XXI
Defamation
Chapter XXII
Criminal Intimidation, Insult and Annoyance
Chapter XXIII