Government on Wednesday banned begging at public, religious and other places in the summer capital here, directing police to strictly follow the order and arrest ‘violators.’
An order issued by deputy commissioner Srinagar Dr 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 that whereas, Srinagar being the summer capital of the State of Jammu & Kashmir holds great importance in the socio-economic landscape of the State of Jammu and Kashmir.
“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. Further being a prime tourist destination, it is home to tourists both domestic and foreign,” the order read. “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 about a mosque, temple or other place of public worship, whether or not under any pretence and entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting alms 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 order reads.
According to the order, those 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 and 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 also be arrested.
“Senior Superintendent of Police, Srinagar and Senior Superintendent of Police, Budgam shall implement this order in letter & spirit and report the number of such arrests on daily basis,” he added.