Punjab cabinet approves amendments in The Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance, 1958 and employing beggars has been made Non-bailable offence.
According to the amendments, whoever employs a person for alms will be imprisoned for a term of 3 years and fine of 1 Lakh rupees up to 3 Lakh rupees will be imposed. A further imprisonment of 6 months will be added if the fine is not paid. Similarly, whoever employs more than one person or a child for alms will be imprisoned for 3 years up to 5 years and a fine of 3 Lakh rupees up to 5 Lakh rupees and further imprisonment of 6 months if the fine is not paid.
Whoever employs more than one child for alms will be imprisoned for 5 years up to 7 years and a fine of 5 Lakh rupees up to 7 Lakh rupees and further imprisonment of 1 year if the fine is not paid. The amendment is passed that whoever being an organizer causes incapacitation of a person or child being used for alms will be imprisoned for 7 years up to 10 years and a fine of 1 million rupees up to 2 million rupees will be imposed. A further imprisonment of 2 years will be added if the fine is not paid.
It is pertinent to mention that if a person previously convicted of the offence under this Ordinance repeats the same offence, the accused shall be liable for double punishment of imprisonment and fine, which is provided for that offence under this Ordinance. The spokesperson of the Punjab Home Department said that these measures are necessary to bring the professional beggars and their mafia chiefs to justice and increasing the punishments will discourage the beggar mafia.
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