Vidhi Codex

The Karnataka Prohibition of Beggary Act, 1975

The Karnataka Prohibition of Beggary Act, 1975

Criminal197542 sections7 chapters

This law prohibits public begging across the state of Karnataka, applying to any adult found soliciting alms, displaying injuries or deformities for money, or wandering without visible means of subsistence. Exemptions are made for licensed religious mendicants, religious vows, approved charitable collections, and students. Police may arrest violators and send them to receiving or relief centers for custody, medical care, or reformative hard labor rather than immediate imprisonment. Funding is maintained through a state beggary surcharge tax. This legislation matters because it attempts to clear public spaces of begging while establishing a state-run welfare system to rehabilitate, treat, and reintegrate vulnerable or destitute individuals.

Start reading →Read full ActSections

Chapter II DEFINITIONS →

  1. 2Definitions.- In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,-

Chapter III PROHIBITION OF BEGGING →

  1. 3Begging prohibited

Chapter IV CONSTITUTION AND ADMINISTRATION →

  1. 4Central Relief Committee
  2. 5Local Committees
  3. 6Local administration

Chapter V INSTITUTIONS →

  1. 7Receiving Centres
  2. 8Relief Centres
  3. 9Management of institutions
  4. 10Enforcement of discipline

Chapter VI PROCEDURE AND PUNISHMENTS →

  1. 11Arrest and enquiry
  2. 12Magistrate to send beggar to the relief centre
  3. 13Infirm, disabled and decrepit beggars and persons suffering from any
  4. 14Medical examination and detention of leprosy patients and lunatics.- (1)
  5. 15Beggar to leave Institution on discharge or permission
  6. 16Absconding beggars how to be dealt with
  7. 17Judicial Magistrate, or Metropolitan Magistrate who after summary trial may convict him and sentence him to imprisonment for a period not exceeding three months.
  8. 18Refusal of a beggar to go to an institution or to a Magistrate punishable with imprisonment or fine or both

Chapter VII MISCELLANEOUS →

  1. 19Transfer from one Institution to another.-
  2. 20Temporary release of beggars
  3. 21Unconditional release of beggars
  4. 22Transfer between relief centres in the State and institutions of a like nature in other States of India
  5. 23Offences under this Act cognizable
  6. 24Fines.- Fines recovered under this Act, shall be credited to the Central Relief
  7. 25Priority for cases under the Act.- Notwithstanding anything in the Code of
  8. 26Power to acquire property, etc.- Subject to the rules made in this behalf the
  9. 27Appointment of officers
  10. 28Protection of officers
  11. 29Public Servant
  12. 30Central Relief Fund.-
  13. 31Beggary cess
  14. 32Board of Visitors
  15. 33Revision.- Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in the Code of
  16. 34Session shall be final.
  17. 35Central Relief Committee from amongst its members and the order of that Board shall be final.
  18. 36Fund.
  19. 37Administration Report

Chapter VIII CONTROL →

  1. 38Powers of Government
  2. 39Disputes
  3. 40Rules
  4. 41Repeal

PDF: pending for this language.