The Delhi High Court has sought responses from the Delhi government and other authorities on a Public Interest Litigation alleging the exploitation of children through forced begging at roads, traffic intersections and other public places across the national capital.
PIL raises concerns over vulnerable children
The petition was filed by Janseva Welfare Society through its president Ajay Aggarwal. The court has issued notices to the Government of NCT of Delhi, the Commissioner of Police, the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) and the concerned Child Welfare Committee(s).
The plea seeks urgent intervention to protect children who are allegedly being compelled or used for begging. It argues that the issue goes beyond a law-and-order concern and involves children’s constitutional rights, dignity, safety, education, development and welfare.
The petitioners, represented by advocates Yogesh Goel, Shikhar Singh, Aryan Singh and Sagar Sherawat, have questioned whether existing mechanisms are adequately addressing the alleged exploitation of children.
Plea seeks rescue and rehabilitation
According to the petition, existing systems for identifying, rescuing, protecting, rehabilitating and reintegrating vulnerable children have not been effective enough. The petitioners have sought coordinated action by the authorities rather than periodic drives that temporarily remove children from public places.
The plea calls for measures to identify and rescue vulnerable children, followed by their protection, rehabilitation and reintegration under the applicable child-protection framework.
The latest proceedings place the focus on the need for a coordinated response involving law-enforcement agencies and child-protection authorities. The allegations in the PIL remain matters for consideration by the court, and the authorities have been asked to respond.