Delhi high court decriminalises begging in national capital
Delhi-beggar-afp
Currently, there is no central law on begging and destitution and most states have adopted the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959.
In a landmark order, the Delhi high court on Wednesday struck down the Prevention of Beggars Act 1959 that criminalises begging in the national capital. The seemingly colonial era law seemed to found a justifiable end today.
The bench of acting chief justice Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar passed an order asking the Delhi government to bring in alternative legislation to further prevent any incidents of forced begging.
In the past, the Delhi high court had pulled up the Centre after it had failed to amend the law criminalising begging and rehabilitate the beggars. The bench said that the provisions treat begging as an offence are unconstitutional and must be struck down.
On May 16, the court had asked how begging could be an offence in a country where the government was unable to provide food or jobs.
The high court was considering two PILs seeking to decriminalise begging.
The central government had said there were sufficient checks and balances in the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act which criminalises begging.
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Currently, there is no central law on begging and destitution and most states have adopted the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which criminalises begging, or have modelled their laws on it.