Editor
The Punjab Cabinet has accredited amendments to the province’s anti-begging legislation, escalating penalties for these forcing others to beg and making it a non-bailable offence, officers mentioned on Tuesday.
The amendments to The Punjab Vagrancy Ordinance 1958 elevated jail phrases and fines for leaders of begging mafias.
Under the revised legislation, a hoop chief forcing a single particular person to beg may resist three years in jail and a high-quality of Rs100,000 to Rs300,000.
Failure to pay the high-quality might end in a further six months in jail.
Forcing a number of people to beg may result in a sentence of three to five years and a high-quality between Rs300,000 and Rs500,000, with related extra penalties for non-payment of fines.
Stricter punishments are prescribed for circumstances involving youngsters, with sentences starting from 5 to 7 years and fines from Rs500,000 to Rs700,000.
If fines are unpaid, a further 12 months in jail shall be imposed.
In probably the most extreme circumstances, the place an individual is disabled and compelled to beg, the punishment extends to 7 to 10 years in jail, with fines of Rs1 million to Rs2 million.
An additional two years in jail shall be added for unpaid fines.
Repeat offenders will face double the unique sentence and fines, in keeping with the brand new provisions.
The amendments are a part of a broader crackdown by the Punjab Home Department on skilled begging networks. “These enhanced penalties are important to discourage the begging mafias and maintain them accountable,” a Punjab Home Department spokesperson mentioned.
