Highlighting the plight of child beggars in the city, a PIL has come before the Delhi High Court seeking directions to ensure their rehabilitation and eliminate the evil of child beggary.
A bench of Chief Justice G Rohini and Justice P S Teji after brief arguments posted the matter for further consideration on January 7.
“The issue of child begging is already seized by the Supreme Court and it was already monitoring the same. We will keep the matter pending,” the bench said.
The High Court was hearing a PIL, filed by Ajay Gautam, seeking directions to identifying exact number of destitute children who are involved in begging and to review the steps taken to solve this problem in all forms.
It has sought proper educational facilities to children who are found begging besides a direction to the Delhi Police to properly enquire the whereabouts of children who are found begging.
“In order to claim fame amongst the Commonwealth nations, Delhi Government exhausted every possible tool to eradicate beggary during the run-up to the Commonwealth Games. However, immediately after the culmination of games, the situation became the same,” the plea claimed.
It contends that though Delhi State Commission for Protection of Child Rights was formed on July 7, 2008 for eradication of child beggary from the city yet it has failed in its task.
It has sought judicial intervention to abolish “use of children for begging” and provide them with their constitutional rights of life.
“While the Centre has enacted variety of legislations for uplift of children, it has failed to ensure that children do not beg,” it said.
