Thread by @barandbench

Supreme Court will hear today a plea seeking to restrain beggars or those who are homeless from begging at traffic junctions, in markets and public places to avoid the spread of COVID-19 pandemic across India and to rehabilitate them #covid19 #supremecourt @appauled_

Matter begins
#supremecourt

Sr Adv Chinmoy Sharma appears: this is a writ where we are seeking rehabilitation of beggars on streets. Due to third wave, there is a issue with them being on streets and not being vaccinated. food and shelter too has to be provided

Justice Chandrachud: why do people beg on streets is a reason of poverty. AS A SUPREME COURT WE WILL NOT TAKE A ELITIST VIEW. We cannot grant the prayer to restrain them from begging, this is a socio economic problem. we can have education for their children etc

Sharma: we want a more humanitarian approach

Justice MR Shah: please do not press the prayer to restrain beggars from begging.

Sharma: we will not press for the removal. But please let us not start on wrong footing.

Justice Chandrachud: have you made submissions on the first prayer.

Adv Mohit Paul: we are only seeking rehabilitation for them. Govt to take steps for it

Justice Chandrachud: in these proceedings under Article 32, among the reliefs which have been sought is a mandamus in the following terms (removal of beggars, prayer A).

Justice Chandrachud: The manner in which Prayer A has been drafted seems as if a direction has been sought to restrain beggars from begging from all across India to contain the spread of covid 19. latter part of the prayer is to seek rehabilitation.

Justice Chandrachud: at the outset the court has indicated that the court is not inclined to grant the prayer seeking a direction in the above terms. the reason why people generally are required to take to the streets to beg is to eek out a elementary livelihood

Justice Chandrachud: this is a socio economic problem and cannot be remedied by a direction as urged for under Prayer A. Sr Adv Sharma states that what is intended is not what is put through part a and that they seek rehabilitation for those who take to streets for begging

Justice Chandrachud: in the context of COVID19, they (beggars, vagabonds, homeless) are entitled to medical facilities as others. We issue notice. permission granted to amend the plea so as to bring conformity as prayer A will not be pressed. notice issued to Centre and NCT.

Justice Chandrachud: since the issue is of vaccinating the persons amid covid19 pandemic, we expect response from Union and NCT of Delhi as to how this humane situation is being dealt with. Solicitor General Tushar Mehta requested to assist the court.

"We won't take elitist view to restrain beggars from begging:" Supreme Court issues notice on plea for rehabilitation of beggars

report by @DebayonRoy

#SupremeCourtOfIndia #begging

Read more here: bityl.co/82UW