(1)
No person shall solicit alms (begging) in a public place or use a child
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for the purposes of begging under the pretense of singing, dancing,
playing or doing any act or use other person for purposes of begging,
in return for any kind of money or wages paid by him or her to that
other person, or abet begging.
(2) A person who commits the offence referred to in subsection
(1) shall be liable to the sentence as follows and the claimed
amount of begging shall also be forfeited:
(a) Imprisonment for a term not exceeding one month or a
fine not exceeding one thousand rupees, in the case of
begging for the first time, and imprisonment for a term
not exceeding two months or a fine not exceeding two
thousand rupees for every instance, from the second
instance onwards,
(b) Imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or a
fine not exceeding ten thousand rupees or both the
sentences, in the case of causing begging for the first
time, and imprisonment for a term not exceeding three
years or a fine not exceeding thirty thousand rupees or
both the sentences for every instance, from the second
instance onwards.
Explanation: For the purposes of this Section,-
(1) begging by a sage, saint, hermit or monk visiting
home to home as per the tradition practiced from
time immemorial or begging in any religious or
cultural work shall not be considered to be an
offence under this Section,
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(2) 'public place' means any road, street, park, motor
vehicle stop, government office or office
premises, and this term also includes a means of
transport in public use.