Won't be elitist and ban begging: SC seeks plan for rehab & vaccination

New Delhi: "As the Supreme Court, we would not want to take an elitist view that no beggars should be there on the streets," the Supreme Court stated on Tuesday. Making it clear that it will not take an "elitist view" that no beggars be allowed on the streets, the top court has asked the Centre and Delhi government to respond to a plea seeking vaccination and rehabilitation of beggars and vagabonds in view of the COVID-19 pandemic.

The apex court said begging is a socio-economic problem and people are compelled to beg on the streets to eke out some elementary livelihood in the absence of education and employment. Delhi especially has a huge population of beggars, and the issue cannot be simply solved by banning them from the streets, the court observed.

A bench of Justices D Y Chandrachud and M R Shah told the counsel appearing for the petitioner that it would not consider one part of the prayer which sought direction to the authorities to restrain beggars, vagabonds and homeless persons from begging at public places or traffic junctions.

They said they would instead issue notices to the Centre and the Delhi government seeking their responses on the prayer made in the petition for rehabilitation, vaccination and providing food and shelter to beggars and vagabonds amidst the pandemic.

While referring to a part of the prayer made in the plea, the bench stated that "it is seeking to restrain people from begging on the streets. This is a socio-economic problem of poverty. The idea is to rehabilitate them, give them and their children education". Later, adding that such people have no choice and nobody wants to beg.

The bench made it clear that the goal of the prayer should be to rehabilitate them and ensure that they are provided vaccination, food and shelter, especially during the pandemic where many have lost their livelihoods.

The bench has asked Solicitor General Tushar Mehta to assist it in the matter and posted it for hearing after two weeks.

The petitioner's counsel told the bench that the issue raised in the plea is regarding rehabilitation of beggars is being made due to the impending third wave of Covid-19, which poses a serious threat.

The bench noted in its order that it has indicated to the petitioner that it is not inclined to countenance a prayer seeking directions to restrain beggars and vagabonds from the

streets.

It noted that petitioner's counsel has said that he is not pressing the prayer seeking directions to restrain beggars and vagabonds from the streets. In view of the clarification issued, we are inclined to issue notice, the bench said, while granting liberty to the petitioner to amend the prayer.

It said since the immediate issue which needs to be attended to is that of vaccinating these persons, it would expect the Centre and Delhi government to apprise it about the steps which are being taken to deal with this human situation.