During Corona, the Supreme Court has refused to ban begging in public places and on the streets. The court said that the Supreme Court should not be expected to adopt such an attitude towards the poor.
The court said in its remarks that due to lack of education and employment, people are generally forced to beg on the streets to meet some basic needs of livelihood. The court said that we would not like to adopt an elitist view that there should be no beggar on the streets. Along with this, the court has sought a response from the Center and the Delhi government on the vaccination of beggars within two weeks.
However, the court issued a notice to the Center and the Delhi government on the demand for prevention and vaccination of people living on the roadside from corona. Petitioner Kush Kalra said that in view of the possibility of third wave of corona in the country, it is necessary to stop people begging at traffic lights and other public places.
A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah rejected this demand outright. The judges said that people beg because of poverty and helplessness. They cannot be treated in such insensitive manner.
The petitioner’s counsel Chinmay Sharma, defending the petition, said that there is a need to understand his point in the right context. His emphasis is on rehabilitation of beggars and homeless people. He also wants these people to be saved from Corona.
Get them vaccinated. To this, the judges said, “The first prayer in your petition is to remove the beggars. It should be clear that this court will not pass any order banning begging. Your other points can be considered.”
After this remark, the judges issued notices to the Center and the Delhi government on issues like saving beggars and homeless people from corona, providing treatment facilities, their vaccination and rehabilitation. The court has also asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist him in the matter. The next hearing of the case will be after 2 weeks.