Poverty forces to beg: Supreme Court refuses to ban begging at public places amid pandemic

Mangalore Today News Network

New Delhi, Jul 27, 2021: The Supreme Court on Tuesday issued a notice to the Centre and Delhi government on a petition seeking vaccination and rehabilitation of beggars in the wake of the Covid-19 pandemic in India, saying the court will not take an elitist view to ban begging.

 

A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah said that beggars cannot be wished away from public places and traffic junctions. “No one would like to beg if not for poverty,” the SC bench said as it turned down a petition to restrain begging at traffic lights, markets and public places in light of the precautionary measures for the Covid-19 pandemic.

The SC observed that people are generally compelled to beg on the streets to eke out some elementary livelihood due to the absence of education and employment. “We will not take an elitist view on this. This is a socio-economic problem. We cannot say that they will not be allowed to beg,” the Supreme Court said.

The SC then issued notices to the Centre and the Delhi government, seeking their responses within two weeks on the prayer made in the petition for rehabilitation of beggars and vagabonds, their vaccination and providing them with shelter and food amid the pandemic.

Courtesy:India Today