Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972

No: 4 Dated: Mar, 02 1973

Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972

An act to consolidate and amend the law relating to beggars for the purpose of making better provision for the prevention of begging in the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu and for matters connected therewith.

Be it enacted by the Legislative Assembly of Goa, Daman and Diu in the Twenty-third Year of the Republic of India as follows:— 

CHAPTER I

Preliminary

1. Short title, extent and commencement.— (1) This Act may be called the Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972.

(2) It extends to the whole of the Union territory of Goa, Daman and Diu. (3) It shall come into force on such date as the Government may, by notification in the Official Gazette, appoint.

2. Definitions.— In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,—

(i) “begging” means— (a) soliciting or receiving alms in a public place; 

  (b) entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms; 

  (c) exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease of a human being or of an animal;

  (d) having no visible means of subsistence and wandering about or remaining in any public place in such condition or manner, as makes it likely that the person doing so exists by soliciting or receiving alms; or

  (e) allowing oneself to be used as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms; but does not include soliciting or receiving money or food or gifts for a purpose authorised by any law, or authorised by the Government or by such officer as may be specified by it in this behalf, in such manner as may be prescribed;

(ii) “Certified Institution” means any institution which the Government provides and maintains for the detention, training and employment of beggars and their dependants, and includes an institution certified to be such under sub-section (1) of section 13;

(iii) “Chief Inspector” means the person appointed to be the Chief Inspector of Certified Institutions under sub-section (1) of section 17, and includes an Additional Chief Inspector appointed under that section;

(iv) “child” has the meaning assigned to it in the Children Act, 1960;

(v) “Court” means the Court of a Magistrate of any Class or any other Court exercising Criminal jurisdiction;

(vi) “Government” means the Government of Goa, Daman and Diu;

(vii) “Official Gazette” means the Goa, Daman and Diu Government Gazette;

(viii) “Prescribed” means prescribed by rules made under this Act;

(ix) “Probation Officer” means an officer appointed to be a Probation Officer under sub-section (1) of section 17;

(x) “public place” includes a railway station and any open space to which for the time being the public have been or are permitted to have an access whether on payment or otherwise;

(xi) “Receiving Centre” means an institution for the reception and temporary detention of beggars provided by the Government or certified to be such under sub-section (1) of section 12;

(xii) “Superintendent” or “In-charge” means Superintendent or In-charge of a Receiving Centre or a Certified Institution, as the case may be.