Definitions

In this Act, unless there is anything repugnant in the subject or context- (1) 'begging' means- (i) soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, whether under the pretence of singing, dancing, performing tricks or selling articles or otherwise; (ii) entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms; (iii) exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease, whether of himself or of any other person or of an animal; (iv) allowing oneself to be used as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms; but does not include soliciting or receiving money or food or gifts for such purposes as may be prescribed. (1-A) 'Juvenile Court' means a Court established under sub-section (1) of section 36 of the Tamil Nadu Children Act, 1920, and if no such Court is established in any area, a Sub-divisional Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first or second class specially authorized by the State Government to exercise the powers of such Court. (1-B) 'Magistrate' means a salaried Presidency Magistrate or a Sub-divisional Magistrate or a Magistrate of the first or second class specially authorised by the State Government in this behalf. (1-C) 'public place' includes any public street, road or thoroughfare or any place of public worship or any place of public resort or any bus-stand or any railway carriage or premises of a railway station. (2) 'special home' means a place notified by the State Government in the Fort St. George Gazette as suitable for the reception of persons not physically capable of ordinary manual labour, who are ordered to be detained in a special home under any of the provisions of this Act; (3) 'workhouse' means a place notified by the State Government in the Fort St. George Gazette as suitable for the reception of persons physically capable of ordinary manual labour, who are ordered to be detained in a workhouse under any of the provisions of this Act. In the Tamil Nadu Prevention of Begging Act, 1945 (hereinafter referred to as the principal Act), in section 2, in clause (1), for the expression "but does not include soliciting or receiving money or food or gifts for such purposes as may be prescribed", the following shall be substituted, namely :-- "but does not include-- (a) earning a livelihood by displaying skills and talents by street artists and performers in the oral tradition, bards, jugglers and street magicians; and (b) soliciting or receiving money or food or gifts for such purposes as may be prescribed.".