Issuing a notice to the central and Delhi government on a plea calling for vaccination and rehabilitation of beggars in the view of the Coronavirus pandemic in India, the Supreme Court has said that it will not take opinions from the elitist on banning begging. The bench said that it cannot take the prayer to stop begging.
A bench comprising Justices DY Chandrachud and MR Shah were hearing a PIL filed by Kush Kalra who sought to restrain beggars and vagabonds or those homeless people who beg at traffic junctions, in markets and public places to avoid the spread of Coronavirus infection and to rehabilitate them at a better place.
Dismissing the petition to stop beggars begging at the traffic light and other public places, the SC bench said, “No one would like to beg if not for poverty.”
Noting that people are compelled to beg on the streets to earn something to fulfil basic livelihood needs due to the absence of education and employment.
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“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 SC bench said.
The court has sought responses from the centre and Delhi government within two weeks on the petition made to rehabilitate beggars and homeless people and provide vaccination, shelter and food amid the pandemic.
Senior Advocate Chinmoy Sharma, appearing for the petitioner who submitted the plea demanding sheltering the beggars and ensuring they are vaccinated to protect them from the deadly virus.
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The petition is slated to be heard after two weeks.