The Delhi High Court on Friday sought response from the AAP government and the Centre on a public interest litigation (PIL) seeking eradication of begging by children in the national capital.
A bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Amit Bansal issued notice on a PIL by Ajay Gautam and also sought responses from Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights and Delhi Police.
In his petition, Mr Gautam has sought directions to the authorities to rehabilitate children who are beggars and to identify and arrest the persons who are "pushing women using toddlers, teenage girls and small children into begging and...crime" and exploiting young girls.
Mr Gautam has alleged that in spite of the presence of beggars in every part of the city, the authorities have failed to take any remedial steps to curb the menace.
"Everyone knows that begging mafia is actively behind this menace of begging by the children and they in fact they kidnap, train, force and torture innocent children for begging," the petition states.
It is further said that small children are deliberately harmed and injured to "get maximum sympathy of people".
"It has been commonly seen in winters that young girls hold toddlers without clothes to gain maximum sympathy. It is also not out of context to mention here that in many cases these gangs/mafias and young girls intentionally give sedatives to small children to gather sympathy of people risking lives of toddlers as young as 9-12 months," reads the petition.
The petition argues that the Constitution of India mandates the state to make efforts to provide best opportunities for the development of children and ensure that they are not abused.
The matter would be heard next on September 27.
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Court Refuses To Cancel Case Against Delhi University Professor For "Shiva Linga" Post "Can't Order Roving...": High Court On Probe Into Sexual Harassment In Film Industry Unnao Rape Case: Kuldeep Sengar Gets Interim Bail On Medical Ground Is Safe Car Enough? Volvo Crash That Killed CEO, Family Sparks Big Question Snack Food Epigamia Founder Rohan Mirchandani Dies Of Cardiac Arrest At 41 "Nothing Short Of Nightmare": Woman Misses Life Event, Slams Air India Chandrababu Naidu's Party Launches Its First Membership Drive In Delhi National Aviation University Hiring Faculty, Salary Up To Rs 2.18 Lakh Man Runs Tractor Over Brother In Karnataka, Then Surrenders To Cops Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.