Section 126: Prohibition of soliciting alms (begging) or causing begging

1) No person shall solicit alms (begging) in a public place or use a child for the purposes of begging under the pretence of singing, dancing, playing or doing any act or use another person for purposes of begging, in return for any 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 sub-section (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,

(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.