COURT ON ITS OWN MOTION Vs. STATE

JUDGEMENT

(1.) A news item appeared in 'Pioneer' dated 21/2/2000 under the heading "Puja lands man in beggar's home. This court took suo moto notice or the said article and called for relevant records of the case.

(2.) On scrutiny of records it transpired that the person Shri Kanshinath oh his own admission was sentenced under Section 5 of the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act 1959 (hereinafter referred to as the 'said Act') and had not been released because of his failure to furnish a bail bond, Direction was also issued on 21/2/2000 to the Superintendent, R.C.C. Sewa Kutir to supply a list of such beggars who had been ordered to be released on bail but had not furnished the bail bonds. Further directions were also issued on 23/3/2000 to the Superintendents of the different institutions of beggars to produce the record regarding correspondence and/or notices issued to the relations of the family member & of the detained beggars. Since another public interest petition being C.W.No.3118/2000 with regard to the beggars home at Lampur was pending, the present petition was also placed alonh with the said petition.

(3.) A comprehensive status report on the menace of begging has been filed under the signature of Mr. K.J.R. Burman, Joint Director (Programmes), Government of NCT of Delhi. It has been stated in the said report that due to economic reasons there are a large number or beggars in Delhi who have come from other States and in order to deal with this problem the Department of Social welfare is implementing the said Act as extended to the National Capital Territory of Delhi in 1961. It is further stated that anti begging squad has been established with Superintendent, R.C.C. Incharge of the anti begging squad to organise, raids, to apprehend beggars. These beggars are stated to be produced before the competent Court and in case they are committed the beggars are sent to different homes. The Court is functioning at Sewa Kutir complex, Delhi.