For the purpose of ascertaining the age of the person, the Court may, if necessary, cause the beggar to be examined by a medical officer.

Penalty for begging after detention as beggar Penalty for begging after detention as beggar. -

1. (1) Whoever, having been previously detained in a certified institution under this Act is found begging, shall on conviction be punished as hereinafter in this Section provided.
2. (2) When a person is convicted for the first time under sub-section (1), the Court shall order him to be detained in a certified institution for a period of not less than two years and not more than three years.
3. (3) When a person is convicted for the second or subsequent time under sub-section (1), the Court shall order him to be detained for a period of more than three years but not exceeding ten yeas in a certified institution and may convert any period of such detention, not exceeding two years, into a sentence of imprisonment extending to a like period.