Srinagar, May 23: The Jammu and Kashmir government on Wednesday banned the begging at public, religious and other places in Srinagar, directing police to strictly follow the order and arrest ‘violators’.
An order issued here by Deputy Commissioner Srinagar Syed Abid Rasheed Shah while invoking the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act I960 said “being an offence under that Act, it is imperative that strict necessary action under law be initiated against the offenders.”
In his order, the district magistrate said Srinagar said “being the capital city of the state with a vast population, it is contingent upon the administration to take all measures necessary to make the district more citizen-friendly and to prevent public nuisance at all costs.”
The order also talks about Srinagar being a prime tourist destination, which should as such be freed of the nuisance of begging.
According to the order, it has been observed that off late there is a proliferation of beggars on the streets of Srinagar which creates massive nuisance for the general public.
“Now therefore, I, Dr. Syed Abid Rasheed Shah, District Magistrate Srinagar do hereby order, by the powers vested in me under The Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, I960 with immediate effect that any person found soliciting alms in a public place, or in or around a mosque, temple or other place of public worship, whether or not under any pretence; entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting alms; exposing or exhibiting with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease whether of human-being or an animal; having no visible means of subsistence and wandering about or remaining in any public place or in a temple, mosque or other place of public worship in such condition or manner as makes it like that the person doing so exists by soliciting alms; allowing himself to be used as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting alms, does not include soliciting money or fee or gift for a purpose authorized by law or authorized in the prescribed manner by the District Magistrate, shall be immediately arrested under Section 4 of the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 read with Section 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, Svt 1989.”
The orders asked the Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar and Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam to implement this order in letter & spirit and report the number of such arrests on daily basis.
