Child Beggary: High Court Seeks Detailed Status Report From Centre, Delhi Govt On Steps Taken For Rehabilitation Of Affected Children

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday sought a detailed status report from the Centre, Delhi Government as well as the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) on the steps taken for the purpose of rehabilitation of children who are affected by child beggary in the city.

A division bench comprising of Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma and Justice Subramonium Prasad directed that the status report must contain the zone wise steps taken by the authorities in the entire NCT region.

The development ensued in a petition seeking requisite steps to eradicate the problem of child beggary and related problems in and around the national capital.

Filed by Advocate Ajay Gautam, the plea seeks strict implementation of the provisions contained in the Commission for Protection of Child Rights Act, 2005.

In August last year, notices were issued to the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights, the Centre, the Delhi Police, the Department of Social Welfare (NCT of Delhi) and the Department of Education (NCT of Delhi).

During the course of hearing today, the counsel representing DCPCR apprised the Court that it was carrying out periodic checks and was taking steps to rehabilitate children on streets in view of the Standard Operation Procedure (SOP) put in place.

Centre and Delhi Government also submitted that steps were being taken to rehabilitate the affected children and also to ensure compliance of the SOP on the subject.

"Respondents seek and are granted eight weeks time to file a detailed status report on the steps taken by them in the matter, zone wise, in respect of the entire NCT region," the Court ordered.

The matter will now be heard on December 2.

In his plea, Gautam has sought direction upon the concerned Respondents to identify and rehabilitate destitute children who are pushed into begging.

He further seeks a direction to the Station House Officers (SHOs) of all Police Stations to take appropriate steps for preventing child begging in the areas under their jurisdiction and a beat officer be appointed in this regard.

"No child begs for himself. They are forced into it as a part of organized crimes… These children are given daily targets. They are abused, subjected to violence," he had previously alleged before the Court.

He had contended that such activities not only antithetical to the judgment of Bandhua Mukti Morcha which was against bonded labour, but is also violative of the Constitutional provisions under Article 14 (right to equality), 21 (right to life and dignity), 39(e) (children to not be forced by economic necessity to enter avocations unsuited to their age or strength), 39(f) (children to be given facilities to develop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity), 41 (Right to education and public assistance) and 42 (Provision for just and humane conditions of work).

Case Title: Ajay Gautam v. Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights & Ors.