Excelsior Correspondent
JAMMU, July 7: In a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by practicing lawyer Advocate Parimoksh Seth seeking directions to the respondents to implement the provisions of the Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 and to stop menace of organized begging, Division Bench of High Court comprising Justice Mansoor Ahmed Mir and Justice Tashi Rabstan has issued notice to the State through Chief Secretary, Principal Secretary Home Department, DGP and Secretary, Social Welfare Department and directed them to file status report within next two weeks.
In the PIL, it has been submitted that the State in the year 1960 enacted a legislation known as J&K Prevention of Beggary Act for prevention of begging in the State and also for creating avenues for beggars as good citizens.
The legislation makes begging as an offence as per Section 3 of the Act and as per Section 4, the police officer is authorized to arrest a person indulging into begging without warrants. Section 5 envisages a provision for summary inquiry in respect of persons found begging and their detention.
The Act also provides for provisions for creation of beggars’ home, public sick home and children home for such beggars and other social avenues for rehabilitation of beggars in addition to preventing the same by enforcing the provisions of the Act.
It has also been submitted in the PIL that after lapse of more than 50 years, J&K has not implemented the J&K Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960.
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