means a person who has completed the age of sixteen years but has not completed the age of eighteen years; 9 means the sexual exploitation or abuse of persons for commercial purposes, and the expression “prostitute” shall be construed accordingly. 10 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. [(2A) For the purposes of sub-section (2), it shall be presumed until the contrary is proved, that any person 11 28 referred to in clause (a) or clause (b) of that subsection, 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,— view to [his] carrying on, or being brought up to carry on prostitution; or (d) causes or induces a [person] to carry on prostitution,1[person] to carry on prostitution,” [shall be punishable on conviction with rigorous (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. 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 subsection 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;] [***] (3) An offence under this section shall be triable— (a) in the place from which a [person] is procured, induced to go, taken or caused to be taken or from which an attempt to procure or take such [person] is made; or 1[person] is procured, induced to go, taken or caused to be taken or from which an attempt to procure or take such 1[person] is made; or” (b) in the place to which he may have gone as a result of the inducement or to which he is taken or caused to be taken or an attempt to take him is made. Procuring, inducing or taking 1[person] for the sake of prostitution.— (1) Any person who— (a) procures or attempts to procure a [person], whether with or without [his] consent, for the purpose of prostitution; or 1[person], whether with or without 2[his] consent, for the purpose of prostitution; or” (b) induces a [person] to go from any place, with the intent that [he] may for the purpose of prostitution become the inmate of, or frequent, a brothel; or 1[person] to go from any place, with the intent that 3[he] may for the purpose of prostitution become the inmate of, or frequent, a brothel; or” (c) takes or attempts to take a [person], or causes a [person] to be taken, from one place to another with a 12 (1) Any [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 13