Section 371

This is one of the older provisions of the Indian Penal Code, reflecting nineteenth-century concerns about the historical slave trade, and it specifically targets habitual, repeated dealing in slaves rather than a single isolated act. Today its practical role has largely been absorbed by the modern anti-trafficking framework in section 370, which covers slavery-like exploitation more broadly and is more commonly used. The Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023 has largely folded such conduct into its comprehensive trafficking provisions rather than retaining a standalone 'habitual dealing in slaves' offence.

Given that modern slavery and bonded labour cases are now typically prosecuted under trafficking provisions like section 370, courts rarely apply this specific historical section, though its underlying prohibition on treating persons as slaves for trade remains part of the legal framework.