The High Court Has Declared That Begging Is Not A Criminal Offence In Delhi, Here're The Deets

Hey, guys! Did you know that begging in Delhi was actually a criminal offence? No? Oh, it doesn’t matter anymore because the High Court has now decided to decriminalise the act in the national capital. Read on as we give you all the deets.

Here’s What Happened | So here’s a little bit of context, there is currently no central law on begging and destitution in the country and most states, including Delhi, have adopted the Bombay Prevention Of Begging Act, 1959 that proscribes the act in the state. But now, the HC has declared that criminalising begging is unconstitutional.

However, some provisions of the Bombay Prevention Of Begging Act, like Section 11, that talks about penalty for employing or causing persons to beg or using them for purposes of begging, have not been struck down.

The High Court is of the opinion that begging cannot possibly be an offence in a nation that is unable to provide food and jobs to its people. Sad, but true.

A lot still needs to be done to ensure that the basic needs of all the citizens of this country are met. And that, we feel, would probably be the right time to criminalise begging.

Sourced Via The Times Of India