Social Justice Minister Thawar Chand Gehlot had said at a pre-legislative consultation meeting that the Bill “will provide protection, care, support, shelter, training and other services to all persons in destitution”.
The approach of the Ministry towards addressing the problem of destitution and beggary was “rehabilitative rather than punitive,” he had said.
The Ministry had also then said that the model law was drafted on recommendations from the National Consultation Meetings held with state representatives and experts in the field of beggary.
Currently, there is no central law on begging and destitution and most states have adopted the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959, which criminalises beggary, or have modelled their laws on that basis. The two petitions have challenged the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act.
The bench today asked the ministry to furnish a copy of the draft bill to the petitioners, Harsh Mandar and Karnika Sawhney, who have in their pleas also sought basic amenities like proper food and medical facilities at all beggars’ homes in the city.
Their pleas were first filed in the Supreme Court from where they were transferred to Delhi High Court.
The high court in October last year was told that Delhi Police was assisting the AAP government in removing beggars from tourist spots, traffic intersections and religious places here.
(Sourced from agencies, feature image courtesy:oneindia.com)
