Ensure Publicity Of Child Helpline Number To Deal With Child Begging: Delhi High Court To Authorities

The Delhi High Court on Tuesday directed the Delhi Government and the Delhi Police to ensure that publicity is given to the child helpline number 1098 to deal with incidents of child begging in the national capital.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Manmohan and Justice Tushar Rao Gedela disposed of a PIL filed by Ajay Gautam seeking requisite steps to eradicate the problem of child beggary and related problems in and around Delhi.

Delhi Government's counsel, Santosh Kumar Tripathi, handed over to the court a status report and a flow chat detailing the process of handling of child helpline number and cases reported therein.

He submitted that the implementation of the flow chart will ensure timely and effective response to the reported incidents of child begging.

The court took on record the status report and the flow chart and held the Delhi Government bound by the same.

Gautam, appearing as petitioner in person, said that though he appreciates the efforts of the Delhi Government but the ground reality of the situation is different.

He said that child begging is very much prevalent in the national capital and such incidents can be found even within 1 km from the High Court.

While disposing of the PIL, the bench directed the authorities to file compliance affidavit and listed the matter for hearing on November 05.

Earlier, the court had directed the Delhi Government to appoint a nodal agency for co-ordination between various government entities and administration of child rehabilitation schemes.

In September last year, the court had sought a detailed status report from the Delhi Government on the steps taken for rehabilitating children in conflict with law who have been rescued from child beggary and housed in various rehabilitation centres in the national capital.

It had also directed the Delhi Government to include in the status report the assessment of long-term impact of such rehabilitation centres on the children under their care.

The bench had said that it is crucial to examine the impact of various rehabilitation measures in light of “persistence of grave social issue” of child begging.

Title: Ajay Gautam v. DCPCR & Ors.

Citation: 2024 LiveLaw (Del) 762