The Madras High Court has issued notices to the Tamil Nadu government, directing it to formulate and explain appropriate steps to prevent the use of children for begging on roads and public spaces. The directive came on Friday during the hearing of a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking action against those who involve minors in begging.
A bench comprising Chief Justice Manindra Mohan Shrivastava and Justice G Arul Murugan admitted the plea and suggested the state develop a concrete plan to address the issue.
The petition was filed by R S Tamilvendan, a resident of Kodambakkam, who stated he regularly witnessed women begging at traffic signals and other public places with children in their hands. He raised serious concerns about the welfare and origins of these children.
“Those children are exposed to intense heat and rain. Begging is a crime in our country,” the petitioner said. He urged the court to order authorities to verify “whether women using children for begging are their biological mothers.”
Tamilvendan further highlighted the potential for exploitation, suggesting an investigation was needed to determine “whether the children were stolen from someone else, obtained from a child trafficking gang, or rented for a price.”
Emphasizing the state’s duty, he argued, “It is the duty of the government to at least investigate and take the children to a government shelter to protect their future.” He warned of long-term social consequences, adding, “If the child grows up in such an environment, there is a possibility that they will easily become anti-social in the future.”
The petitioner also requested the court to direct authorities to probe “whether the children are given sleeping pills or drugs to sleep.”
Noting that many of the women involved are not natives of Tamil Nadu, the plea calls for a thorough inquiry into the practice. The court has admitted the petition and awaits the state government’s detailed response on its strategy to curb this exploitation and rehabilitate affected children.
Source: Times of India
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