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IMMORAL TRAFFIC (PREVENTION) ACT, 1956
104 of 1956
30™ DECEMBER, 1956
[An Act to provide in pursuance of the International Convention signed at New York on the 9th day of May, 1950, for the prevention of immoral traffic]. Be it enacted by Parliament in the Seventh Year of the Republic of India as follows: -
SECTION 01: SHORT TITLE, EXTENT AND COMMENCEMENT
(1) This Act may be called theImmoral Traffic (Prevention) Act, 1956-.
(2) It extends to the whole of India.
(3) This section shall come into force at once; and the remaining provisions of this Act Shall come into force on such date2as the Central Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.
SECTION 02: DEFINITIONS
- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, -
(a) "brothel" includes any house, room,3[conveyance] or place or any portion of any house, room,4[conveyance] or place, which is used for purposes5[of sexual exploitation or abuse] for the gain of another person or for the mutual gain of two or more prostitutes;
6[(aa) "child" means a person who has not completed the age of sixteen years;]
7[8(b)] "corrective institution" means an institution, by whatever name called (being an institution established or licensed as such undersection
21-), in which9[persons], who are in need of correction, may be detained under this Act, and includes a shelter where10[undertrials] may be kept in pursuance of this Act;]11[***]
12[(c) "magistrate" means a magistrate specified in the second column of the Schedule as being competent to exercise the powers conferred by the section in which the expression occurs and which is specified in the first column of the Schedule;]
13[(ca) "major" means a person who has completed the age of eighteen years;
(cb) "minor" means a person who has completed the age of sixteen years but has not completed the age of eighteen years;]
(d) "Prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act;14[***]
15 [16(f) "Prostitution" means the sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes and the expression "prostitute" shall be construed accordingly;]
(g) "protective home" means an institution, by whatever name called (being an institution established or licensed as such undersection 21-), in
which17[persons], who are in need of care and protection, may be kept under this Act18[and where appropriate technically qualified persons, equipment and other facilities have been provided], but does not include-
(i) a shelter where19[under trials] may be kept in pursuance of this Act, or
(ii) a corrective institution;
(h) "public place" means any place intended for use by, or accessible to, the public and includes any public conveyance;
(i) "special police officer" means a police officer appointed by or on behalf of the state Government to be in charge of police duties within a specified area for the purpose of this Act;
20[(j) "trafficking police officer" means a police officer appointed by the Central Government under sub-section (4) of section 13-.]
SECTION 02A: RULE OF CONSTRUCTION REGARDING ENACTMENTS NOT EXTENDING TO JAMMU AND KASHMIR
-21any reference in this Act to a law which is not in force in the State of Jammu and Kashmir shall, in relation to the State, be construed as a reference to the corresponding law, if any, in force in that State].
SECTION 03: PUNISHMENT FOR KEEPING A BROTHEL OR ALLOWING PREMISES TO BE USED AS A BROTHEL
(1) Any person who keeps or manages, or acts or assists in the keeping or management of, a brothel shall be punishable on first conviction with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than one year and not more than three years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than two years and not more than five years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees.
(2) Any person who-
(a) being the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any premises, uses, or knowingly allows any other person to use, such premises or any part thereof as a brothel, or
(b) being the owner, lessor or landlord of any premises or the agent of such owner, lessor or landlord, lets the same or any part thereof with the knowledge that the same or any part thereof is intended to be used as a brothel, or is wilfully a party to the use of such premises or any part thereof as a brothel, shall be punishable on first conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years and with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with rigorous imprisonment for a term which may extend to five years and also with fine.
22[(2A) For the purposes of sub-section (2), it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved, that any person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of that sub-section, is knowingly allowing the premises or any part thereof to be used as a brothel or, as the case may be, has knowledge that the premises or any part thereof are being used as a brothel, if, -
(a) a report is published in a newspaper having circulation in the area in which such person resides to the effect that the premises or any part thereof have been found to be used for prostitution as a result of a search made under this Act; or
(b) a copy of the list of all things found during the search referred to in clause (a) is given to such person].
(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, on conviction of any person referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of subsection (2) of any offence under that sub-section in respect of any premises or any part thereof, any lease or agreement under which such premises have been leased out or are held or occupied at the time of the commission of the offence, shall become void and inoperative with effect from the date of the said conviction.
SECTION 04: PUNISHMENT FOR LIVING ON THE EARNINGS OF PROSTITUTION
(1) Any person over the age of eighteen years who knowingly lives, wholly or in part, on the earnings of the prostitution of 23[any other person] shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to two years, or with fine which may extend to one thousand rupees, or with both24[and where such earnings relate to the prostitution of a child or a minor, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than ten years]
25[(2) Where any person over the age of eighteen years is proved-
(a) to be living with, or to be habitually in the company of, a prostitute; or
(b) to have exercised control, direction or influence over the movements of a prostitute in such a manner as to show that such person is aiding, abetting or compelling her prostitution; or
(c) to be acting as a tout or pimp on behalf of a prostitute, it shall be presumed, until the contrary is proved, that such person is knowingly living on the earnings of prostitution of another person within the meaning of subsection (1).]
SECTION 05: PROCURING, INDUCING OR TAKING PERSON FOR THE SAKE OF PROSTITUTION
(1) Any person who -
(a) procures or attempts to procure a26[person], whether with or without his consent, for the purpose of prostitution; or induces a27[person] to go from any place, with the intent that he/she may, for the purpose of prostitution, become the inmate of or frequent, a brothel; or takes or attempts to take a28[person], or causes a29[person] to be taken, from one place to another with a view to his/her carrying or being brought up to carry on prostitution; or
(b) causes or induces a30[person] to carry on prostitution;31[shall be punishable on conviction with rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than three years and not more than seven years and also with fine which may extend to two thousand rupees, and if any offence under this sub-section is committed against the will of any person, the punishment of imprisonment for a term of seven years shall extend to imprisonment for a term of fourteen years:
Provided that if the person in respect of whom an offence committed under this sub-section-
(i) is a child, the punishment provided under this sub-section shall extend to rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years but may extend to life; and
(ii) is a minor, the punishment provided under this sub-section shall extend to rigorous imprisonment for a term of not less than seven years and not more than fourteen years].32[***]
(3) An offence under this section shall be triable-
(a) in the place from which a33[person] is procured, induced to go, taken or caused to be taken or from which an attempt to procure or taken such34 [person] is made; or
(b) in the place to which she may have gone as a result of the inducement or to which he/she is taken or caused to be taken or an attempt to take him/her is made.
SECTION 06: DETAINING A PERSON IN PREMISES WHERE PROSTITUTION IS CARRIED ON
(1) Any person who detains 35[any other person, whether with or without his consent],-
(a) in any brothel, or
(b) in or upon any premises with intent36[that such person may have sexual intercourse with a person, who is not the spouse of such person] shall be punishable37[on conviction, with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine: Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgement, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term which may be less than seven years.]
38[(2) Where any person is found with a child in a brothel, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that he has committed an offence under sub-section (1).
(2A) Where a child or minor found in a brothel, is on medical examination, detected to have been sexually abused, it shall be presumed unless the contrary is proved, that the child or minor has been detained for purposes of prostitution or, as the case may be, has been sexually exploited for commercial purposes.]
(3) A person shall be presumed to detain a woman or girl in a brothel or in or upon any premises for the purpose of sexual intercourse with a man other than her lawful husband, if such persons, with intent to compel or induce her to remain there, -
(a) withholds from her any jewellery, wearing apparel, money or other property belonging to her, or
(b) threatens her with legal proceedings if she takes away with her any jewellery, wearing apparel, money for other property lent or supplied to her by or by the direction of such person.
(4) Notwithstanding any law to the contrary, no suit, prosecution or other legal proceeding shall lie against such woman or girl at the instance of the person by whom she has been retained, for the recovery of any jewellery, wearing apparel or other property alleged to have been lent or supplied to or for such woman or girl or to have been pledged by such woman or girl or for the recovery of any money alleged to be payable by such woman or girl.
SECTION 07: PROSTITUTION IN OR IN THE VICINITY OF PUBLIC PLACES
39[(1) Any40[Person], who carries on prostitution and the person with whom such prostitution is carried on, in any premises,-
(a) which are within the area or areas, notified under sub-section (3), or
(b) which are within a distance of two hundred metres of any place of public religious worship, educational institution, hostel, hospital, nursing home or such other public place of any kind as may be notified in this behalf by the Commissioner of Police or magistrate in the manner prescribed, shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months].
41[(1A) Where an offence committed under sub-section (1) is in respect of a child or minor, the person committing the offence shall be punishable with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine:
Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned
in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than seven years].
(2) Any person who-
(a) being the keeper of any public place knowingly permits prostitution for purposes of their trade to resort to or remain in such place; or
(b) being the tenant, lessee, occupier or person in charge of any premises referred to in sub-section (1) knowingly permits the same or any part thereof to be used for prostitution; or
(c) being the owner, lessor or landlord, of any premises referred to in subsection (1) or the agent of such owner, lessor or landlord, lets the same or any part thereof with the knowledge that the same or any part thereof may be used for prostitution, or is wilfully a party to such use, shall be punishable on first conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three months or with fine which may extend to two hundred rupees, or with both, and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months and also with fine42[which may extend to two hundred rupees, and if the public place or premises happen to be a hotel, the licence for carrying on the business of such hotel under any law for the time being in force shall also be liable to be suspended for a period of not less than three months but which may extend to one year:
Provided that if an offence committed under this sub-section is in respect of a child or minor in a hotel, such licence shall also be liable to be cancelled.Explanation. -For the purposes of this sub-section, "hotel" shall have the meaning as in clause (6) of section 2 of the Hotel Receipts Tax Act, 1980 (54 of1980)].
43[(3) The State Government may, having regard to the kinds of persons frequenting any area or areas in the State, the nature and the density of population therein and other relevant considerations, by notification in the Official Gazette, direct that the prostitution shall not be carried on in such area or areas as may be specified in the notification.
(4) Where the notification is issued under sub-section (3) in respect of any area or areas, the State Government shall define the limits of such area or areas in the notification with reasonable certainty.
(5) No such notification shall be issued so as to have effect from a date earlier than the expiry of a period of ninety days after the date on which it is issued.]
SECTION 08: SEDUCING OR SOLICITING FOR PURPOSE OF PROSTITUTION
- Whoever, in any public place or within sight of, and in such manner as to be seen or heard from, any public place, whether from within any building or house or not-
(a) by words, gestures, wilful exposure of her person (whether by sitting by a window or on the balcony of a building or house or in any other way), or otherwise tempts or endeavours to tempt, or attracts or endeavours to attract the attention of, any person for the purpose of prostitution; or
(b) solicits or molests any person, or loiters or acts in such manner as to cause obstruction or annoyance to persons residing nearby or passing by such public place or to offend against public decency, for the purpose of prostitution, shall be punishable on first conviction with imprisonment for a term which may extend to six months or with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees, or with both, and in the event of a second or subsequent conviction, with imprisonment for a term which may extend to one year, and also with fine which may extend to five hundred rupees :
44[Provided that where an offence under this section is committed by a man, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a period of not less than seven days but which may extend to three months].
SECTION 09: SEDUCTION OF A PERSON IN CUSTODY
-45[***]Any person who46[having the custody, charge or care of, or in a position of authority over, any47[person], cause or aids or abets, the reduction for prostitution of that48[shall be punishable on conviction with imprisonment of either description for a term which shall not be less than seven years but which may be for life or for a term which may extend to ten years and shall also be liable to fine: Provided that the court may, for adequate and special reasons to be mentioned in the judgment, impose a sentence of imprisonment for a term of less than seven years.]
49 [***]
50 [***]
SECTION 10A: DETENTION IN A CORRECTIVE INSTITUTION
(1) Where-
(a) a female offender is found guilty of an offence under section 7 or section 8; and
(b) the character, state of health and mental condition of the offender and the other circumstances of the case are such that it is expedient that she should be subject to detention for such term and such instruction and discipline as are conducive to her correction, it shall be lawful for the court to pass, in lieu of a sentence of imprisonment, an order for detention in a corrective institution for such term, not being less than two years and not being more than five years, as the court thinks fit:
Provided that before passing such an order- (i) the court shall give an opportunity to the offender to be heard and shall also consider any representation which the offender may make to the court as to the suitability of the case for treatment in such an institution, as also the report of the probation officer appointed under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (20 of 1958), and (ii) the court shall record that it is satisfied that the character, state of health and mental condition of the offender and the other circumstances of the case are such that the offender is likely to benefit by such instruction and discipline as aforesaid.
(2) Subject to the provisions of sub-section (3), the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), relating to appeal, reference and revision and of the Limitation Act, 1963 (36 of 1963), as to the period within which an appeal shall be filed, shall apply in relation to an order of detention under subsection (1) as if the order had been a sentence of imprisonment for the same period as the period for which the detention was ordered.
(3) Subject to such rules as may be made in this behalf, the State Government or authority authorised in this behalf may, at any time after the expiration of six months from the date of an order for detention in a corrective institution, if it is satisfied that there is a reasonable probability that the offender will lead a useful and industrious life, discharge her from such an institution, without condition or with such conditions as may be considered fit, and grant her a written licence in such form as may be prescribed.
(4) The conditions on which an offender is discharged under sub-section (3) may include requirements relating to residence of the offender and supervision over the offender's activities and movements.]
SECTION 11: NOTIFICATION OF ADDRESS OF PREVIOUSLY CONVICTED OFFENDERS
(1) When any person having been convicted-
(a) by a court in India of an offence punishable under this Act or punishable under section 363, section 365, section 366, section 366A, section 366B, section 367, section 368, section 370, section 371, section 372 or section 373 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860), with imprisonment for a term of two years or upwards; or
(b) by a court or tribunal in any other country of an offence which would, if committed in India, have been punishable under this Act or under any of the aforesaid sections with imprisonment for a like term, is within a period of five years after release from prison, again convicted of any offence punishable under this Act or under any of those sections with imprisonment for a term of two years or upwards by a court, such court may, if it thinks fit, at the time of passing the sentence of imprisonment on such person, also order that his residence, and any change of, or absence from such residence after release, be
notified according to rules made under section 23 for a period not exceeding five years from the date of expiration of that sentence.
(2) If such conviction is act aside on appeal or otherwise, such order shall become void.
(3) An order under this section may also be made by an Appellate Court or by the High Court when exercising its powers of revision.
(4) Any person charged with a breach of any rule referred to in sub-section (1) may be tried by a Magistrate of competent jurisdiction in the district in which the place last notified as his residence is situated.
SECTION 12: SECURITY FOR GOOD BEHAVIOUR FROM HABITUAL OFFENDERS
].- Rep. by the Suppression of Immoral traffic in Women and Girls (Amendment) Act, 1986 (44 of 1986) w.e.f. 26th. January, 1987.
SECTION 13: SPECIAL POLICE OFFICER AND ADVISORY BODY
(1) There shall be for each area to be specified by the State Government in this behalf a special police officer appointed by or on behalf of that Government for dealing with offences under this Act in that area.
51[(2) The special police officer shall not be below the rank of an Inspector of Police.
(2A) The District Magistrate may, if he considers it necessary or expedient so to do, confer upon any retired police or military officer all or any of the powers conferred by or under this Act on a special police officer, with respect to particular cases or classes of cases or to cases generally:
Provided that no such power shall be conferred on-
(a) a retired police officer unless such officer, at the time of his retirement, was holding a Post not below the rank of an Inspector;
(b) a retired military officer unless such officer, at the time of his retirement, was holding a post not below the rank of a commissioned officer].
(3) For the efficient discharge of his functions in relation to offences under this Act-
(a) the special police officer of an area shall be assisted by such number of subordinate police officers (including women police officers wherever practicable) as the State Government may think fit; and
(b) the State Government may associate with the special police officer a nonofficial advisory body consisting of not more than five leading social welfare workers of that area (including women social welfare workers wherever practicable) to advise him on questions of general importance regarding the working of this Act.
52[(4) The Central Government may, for the purpose of investigating any offence under this Act or under any other law for the time being in force dealing with sexual exploitation of persons and committed in more than one State, appoint such number of police officers as trafficking police officers and they shall exercise all the powers and discharge all the functions as are exercisable by special police officers under this Act with the modification that they shall exercise such powers and discharge such functions in relation to the whole of India.]
SECTION 14: OFFENCES TO BE COGNIZABLE
- Notwithstanding anything contained in53[the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)] any offence punishable under this Act shall be deemed to be a cognizable offence within the meaning of that Code:
Provided that, notwithstanding anything contained in that Code,- (i) arrest without warrant may be made only by the special police officer or under his direction or guidance, or subject to his prior approval; (ii) when the special police officer requires any officer subordinate to him to arrest without warrant otherwise than in his presence any person for an offence under this Act, he shall give that subordinate officer an order in writing, specifying the person to be arrested and the offence for which the arrest is being made; and the latter officer before arresting the person shall inform him of the substance of the order and, on being required by such person, show him the order; (iii) any police officer not below the rank of sub-inspector specially authorised by the special police officer may, if he has reason to believe that on account of delay involved in obtaining the order of the special police officer, any valuable evidence relating to any offence under this Act is likely to be destroyed or concealed, or the person who has committed or is suspected to have committed the offence is likely to escape, or if the name and address of such a person is unknown or there is reason to suspect that a false name or address has been given, arrest the person concerned without such order, but in such a case he shall report, as soon as may be, to the special police officer the arrest and the circumstances in which the arrest was made.
SECTION 15: SEARCH WITHOUT WARRANT
(1) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, whenever the special police officer54[or the trafficking police officer, as the case may be,] has reasonable grounds for believing that an offence punishable under this Act has been or is being Committed in respect of a55[person] living in any premises, and that search of the premises with warrant cannot be made without undue delay, such officer may, after recording the grounds of his belief, enter and search such premises without a warrant.
(2) Before making a search under sub-section (1), the special police officer56[or the trafficking Police officer, as the case may be] shall call upon two or more respectable inhabitants (at least one of whom shall be a woman) of the locality in which the place to be searched is situate, to attend and witness the search, and may issue an order in writing to them or any of them so to do:57[Provided that the requirement as to the respectable inhabitants being from the locality in which the place to be searched is situate shall not apply to a woman required to attend and witness the search].
(3) Any person who, without reasonable cause, refuses or neglects, to attend and witness a search under this section, when called upon to do so by an order in writing delivered or tendered to him, shall be deemed to have committed an offence under section 187 of the Indian Penal Code (45 of 1860).
58[(4) The special police officer or the trafficking police officer, as the case may be, entering any premises under sub-section (1) shall be entitled to remove therefrom all the persons found therein].
(5) The special police officer,59[or the trafficking police officer, as the case may be,] after removing the60[person] under sub-section (4) shall forthwith produce her6, before the appropriate magistrate.
61[(5A) Any person who is produced before a magistrate under subsection (5), shall be examined by a registered medical practitioner for the purposes of determination of the age of such person, or for the detection of any injuries as a result of sexual abuse or for the presence of any sexually transmitted diseases. Explanation -In this sub-section, "registered medical practitioner" has the same meaning as in the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of 1956].
(6) The special police officer62[or the trafficking police officer, as the case may be], and other persons taking part in, or attending and witnessing a search shall not be liable to any civil or criminal proceedings against them in respect of anything lawfully done in connection with, or for the purpose of the search
63[(6A) The special police officer or the trafficking police officer, as the case may be, making a search under this section shall be accompanied by at least two women police officers, and where any woman or girl removed under sub-section (4) is required to be interrogated, it shall be done by a woman police officer and if no woman police officer is available, the interrogation shall be done only in the presence of a lady member of a recognised welfare institution or organisation. Explanation. -For the purposes of this sub-section and section 17A, "recognised welfare institution or organisation" means such institution or organization as may be recognised in this behalf by the State Government.]
64[(7) The provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974), shall, so far as may be, apply to any search under this section as they apply to any search made under the authority of a warrant issued under section 94 of the said code].
SECTION 16: RESCUE OF PERSON
(1) Where a magistrate has reason to believe from information received from the police or from any other person authorised by the State Government in this behalf or otherwise, that66[any person is living, or is carrying on or is being made to carry on, prostitution in a brothel,] he may direct a police officer not below the rank of a sub-inspector to enter such brothel, and to remove therefrom such67[person] and produce her before him. (2) The police officer, after removing the68[person], shall forthwith produce her before the magistrate issuing the order.
SECTION 17: INTERMEDIATE CUSTODY OF PERSONS REMOVED UNDER SECTION 15 OR RESCUED UNDER SECTION 16
(1) When the special police officer removing a69[person] under sub -section (4) of section 15 or a Police officer rescuing a70[person] under sub-section (1) of section 16, is for any reason unable to produce him before the appropriate magistrate as required by sub-section (5) of section 15, or before the magistrate issuing the order under sub-section (2) of section 16, he shall forthwith produce her before the nearest magistrate of any class, who shall pass such orders as he deems proper for her safe custody until she is produced before the appropriate magistrate, or, as the case may be, the magistrate issuing the order: Provided that no71[person] shall be-
(i) detained in custody under this sub-section for a period exceeding ten days from the date of the order under this sub-section; or (ii) restored to or placed in the custody of a person who may exercise a harmful influence over her.
(2) When the72[person] is produced before the appropriate magistrate under sub-section (5) of section 15 or the magistrate under sub-section (2) of section 16, he shall, after giving her an opportunity of being heard, cause an inquiry to be made as to the correctness of the information received under sub-section (1) of section 16, the age, character and antecedents of the73[person] and the suitability of her parents, guardian or husband for taking charge of her and the nature of the influence which the conditions in her home are likely to have on her if she is sent home, and, for this purpose, he may direct a probation officer appointed under the Probation of Offenders Act, 1958 (20 of 1958), to inquire into the above circumstances and into the personality of the74[person] and the prospects of her rehabilitation.
(3) The magistrate may, while an inquiry is made into a case under subsection (2), pass such orders as he deems proper for the safe custody of the75[person]:
76[Provided that where a person rescued under section 16 is a child or minor, it shall be open to the magistrate to place such child or minor in any institution established or recognised under any Children Act for the, time being in force in any State for the safe custody of children: Provided further that, no77 [person] shall be kept in custody for this purpose for a period exceeding three weeks from the date of such an order, and no78[person] shall be kept in the custody of a person likely to have a harmful influence over her.
(4) Where the magistrate is satisfied, after making an inquiry as required under sub-section (2), -
(a) that the information received is correct; and
(b) that she is in need of care and protection, he may, subject to the provisions of sub-section (5), make an order that such79[person] be detained for such period, being not less than one year and not more than three years, as may be specified in the order, in a protective home, or in such other custody as he shall, for reasons to be recorded in writing, consider suitable:
Provided that such custody shall not be that of a person or body of persons of a religious persuasion different from that of the80[person], and that those entrusted with the custody of the81[person], including the persons in charge of a protective home, may be required to enter into a bond which may, where necessary and feasible, contain undertaking based on directions relating to the proper care, guardianship, education, training and medical and psychiatric treatment of the82[person] as well as supervision by a person appointed by the court, which will be in force for a period not exceeding three years.
(5) In discharging his functions under sub-section (2), a magistrate may summon a panel of five respectable persons, three of whom shall, wherever practicable, be women, to assist him; and may, for this purpose, keep a list of experienced social welfare workers, particularly women social welfare workers, in the field of suppression of immoral traffic in83 [persons].
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