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SLAVE TRADE ACT 1876
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CHAPTER XLVI.
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An Act for more effectually punishing Offences against Laws relating to the Slave Trade. [1]
[11th August 1876.]
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[Recitals of 32 & 33 Vict. c. 98; 28 & 29 Vict. c. 17.] And whereas the several Princes and States in India in alliance with Her Majesty have no connexions, engagements, or communications with Foreign Powers, and the subjects of such Princes and States are, when residing or being in the places herein-after referred to, entitled to the protection of the British Government, and receive such protection equally with the subjects of Her Majesty:
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Punishment of certain offenders as as though offence committed in India.
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1. If any person, being a subject of Her Majesty or of any Prince or State in India in alliance with Her Majesty, shall, upon the High Seas or in any part of Asia or Africa which Her Majesty may from time to time think fit to specify by any order in Council in this behalf, commit any of the offences defined in sections 367, 370, and 371 (in the schedule to this Act respectively recited) of Act 45 of 1860, passed by the Governor General of India in Council and called “The Indian Penal Code,” or abet within the meaning of the fifth chapter of the said Penal Code, the commission of any such offence, such person shall be dealt with, in respect of such offence or abetment, as if the same had been committed in any place within British India in which he may be or may be found.
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Power to apply s. 1. of this Act to amended provisions of Indian Penal Code.
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2. If the Governor General of India in Council shall, at a meeting for making laws and regulations, amend the provisions of the said sections 367, 370, and 371 of the said Penal Code, or any of them, or the said fifth chapter thereof so far as relates to the abetment of any of the offences forbidden by such sections, or make any further provision for preventing or suppressing the making, buying, or selling of slaves or any of the offences comprised in the said three sections, the Secretary of State for India shall, unless Her Majesty has disallowed such amendment or further provision, lay a copy of the amending Act before each House of Parliament; and after the same shall have lain on the table of both Houses of Parliament for the space of forty days, it shall be lawful for Her Majesty, unless either House of Parliament shall present an address to Her Majesty to the contrary, to direct by Order in Council that the provisions of the first section of this Act shall apply to the law so amended or enlarged, and the same shall be applicable accordingly.
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Powers of High Court for purpose of obtaining evidence.
6 & 7 Vict. c. 98.
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3. For the purpose of obtaining evidence of the commission of the offences made punishable by this Act or any Act of Parliament relating to slavery or the slave trade, every High Court in India shall have, as respects the persons in the first section of this Act referred to, and as respects any British colony, settlement, plantation, or territory, wherein any witness may be, the same powers as are conferred on the Court of Queen’s Bench by the fourth section of the Slave Trade Act 1843, with respect to such British colonies, settlements, plantations, and territories as are therein referred to.
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And every High Court may, if it thinks fit, issue such commission as is mentioned in section 330 of Act 10 of 1872, passed by the Governor General of India in Council, and called “ The Code of Criminal Procedure, ” to any consular officer of Her Majesty in the parts of Asia or Africa specified in any Order of Her Majesty in Council under section 1 of this Act, or to any political officer or agent of the Governor General of India in Council or of any Indian Government in the said parts or in the dominions of any Prince or State in India in alliance with Her Majesty, or to any magistrate in Her Majesty’s Indian dominions.
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And the depositions taken by virtue of the said powers or under such commission shall be deemed by every court of original or appellate jurisdiction in India in any trial or proceeding under this Act or any Act of Parliament relating to slavery or the slave trade to be as good and competent evidence as if the witnesses deposing had been present and examined vivâ voce and had made oath or information as required by law.
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[S. 4 rep. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 37. s. 18.]
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Saving powers of Governor General.
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5. Nothing in this Act shall be deemed to restrict the legislative power which the Governor General of India in Council possesses at meetings for the purpose of making laws and regulations.
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[S. 6 rep. 53 & 54 Vict. c. 37. s. 18.]
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SCHEDULE.
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S. 367 of the Indian Penal Code.—Whoever kidnaps or abducts any person in order that such person may be subjected, or may be so disposed of as to be put in danger of being subjected to grievous hurt, or slavery, or to the unnatural lust of any person, or knowing it to be likely that such person will be so subjected or disposed of, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
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S. 370.—Whoever imports, exports, removes, buys, sells, or disposes of, any person as a slave, or accepts, receives, or detains against his will any person as a slave, shall be punished with imprisonment of either description for a term which may extend to seven years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
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S. 371.—Whoever habitually imports, exports, removes, buys, sells, traffics, or deals in slaves, shall be punished with transportation for life, or with imprisonment of either description for a term not exceeding ten years, and shall also be liable to a fine.
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[1 Short title, “ The Slave Trade Act, 1876. ” See 59 & 60 Vict. c. 14. |
