The High Court of Bombay at Goa on Wednesday pushed the State government to respond decisively to the troubling persistence of children begging at traffic intersections, grant ing it two weeks to file its reply in a public interest litigation (PIL) that raises serious concerns over enforce ment and rehabilitation gaps. Hearing the petition filed by advo cate Moses Pinto, the Court signalled that the issue cannot be reduced to routine litigation. In a notable depar ture from strictly adversarial pro ceedings, it encouraged direct engage ment between the petitioner and the office of the Additional Government Advocate, underscoring the need for a collaborative, solution-driven approach. During the hearing, it emerged that a set of detailed suggestions has al ready been placed before the State and is currently under considera tion. These proposals move beyond abstract prohibitions and instead focus on enforceable, ground-level interventions.
Key measures discussed include the deployment of ded icated rescue teams at major traffic junctions to immedi ately intervene in cases involving children; activation of receiving centres equipped with meaningful rehabilita tion programmes spanning education and healthcare; and tightening of inspection mechanisms through the appoint ment and accountability of designated officers under the law. The suggestions also call for the functionalisation of advisory committees to ensure continuous oversight and policy feedback, along with targeted crackdowns on organ ised networks allegedly exploiting children for begging. According to the petitioner, these measures are firmly rooted in the legislative intent of the Goa, Daman and Diu Prevention of Begging Act, 1972, which envisages a struc tured, institutional response rather than sporadic enforce ment drives. With the Court’s directive, the spotlight now shifts squarely onto the State’s policy stance. It must decide whether to adopt a stricter, punitive framework on the lines seen in Madhya Pradesh, rely on the existing Goa law, or craft a hybrid model that balances enforcement with sustained rehabilitation. The matter has been posted for further hearing on April 15, setting up what could become a defining moment in how Goa confronts the systemic issue of child begging.
