HB-2450 Part 8 Extra 99 Date 9-12-2025, Publication of bill further to amend the Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Act, as L.C. Bill No. XV of 2025 by Junior Draftsman to Government. Extra Ord. NO. 99, No.41(3).

महाराष्ट्रा श्रा रा अ ाधारण्भाग्आठ, डि ेंर् ९् २ २५अअहारRणN्यIण ९N्रo,. ्Mय A H१ ENG /2009/355218 महाराष्ट्रा श्रा रा अ ाधारण्भाग्आठ वर्षष्यय९्अं,्४१(३)] मंगळवार९्डि ेंर् ९् २ २५अअहारण्यण९्र, ्य १ [ रृषठे्4९््ड,मं त्:्रुररे् १.२२ अ ाधारण्क्रमां,् प्रााडध,ृत्प्रा,ारश महाराष््डवधाशमंिळाचेे्अडधडशरम्व्राज्ररालांांशी्प्राख्राडरत्, लांेलांे्अध्रादेेर्व्, लांेलांे् डवडशरम्आडण्डवडध्व्न्रार्डवभागा,िूश्आलांेलांी्डवधेर, ्(इंंअ ी्अशुवादे). In pursuance of clause (3) of Article 348 of the Constitution of India, the following translation in English of the Maharashtra Prevention of Begging (Amendment) Bill, 2025 (L. C. Bill No. XV of 2025), introduced in the Maharashtra Legislative Council on the 9th December 2025, is hereby published under the authority of the Governor. By order and in the name of the Governor of Maharashtra, SATISH WAGHOLE, Secretary (Legislation) to Government, Law and Judiciary Department. L. C. BILL No. XV OF 2025. A BILL further to amend the Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Act. WHEREAS it is expedient further to amend the Maharashtra Prevention X of 1960. of Begging Act for the purposes hereinafter appearing; it is hereby enacted in the Seventy-sixth Year of the Republic of India as follows:- 1. This Act may be called the Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Short title. (Amendment) Act, 2025. X of 2. In section 2 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Act (hereinafter Amendment 1960. referred to as “the principal Act”), in sub-section (1),- of section 2 of X of 1960. Bom. LXXI of (a) in clause (iv), for the words and figures “the Bombay Children 1948. Act, 1948” the words, brackets and figures “the Juvenile Justice (Care and 2 of 2016. Protection of Children) Act, 2015” shall be substituted; भााग आठ–९९-१ (१) HB 2450-12 महाराष्ट्रा श्रा रा अ ाधारण्भाग्आठ, डि ेंर् ९् २ २५अअहारण्यण९्र, ्य १ (b) after clause (iv), the following clause shall be inserted, namely :- “(iv-a) “Child Welfare Committee” means the Child Welfare Committee constituted under section 27 of the Juvenile Justice (Care 2 of 2016. and Protection of Children) Act, 2015;” ; (c) clause (vi) shall be deleted. Amendment 3. In section 3 of the principal Act, the words “a Juvenile Court” shall be of section 3 of deleted. X of 1960. Amendment 4. In section 4 of the principal Act, in sub-section (3), for the words and V of of section 4 of figures “section 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898” the words and figures 1898. X of 1960. 46 of “section 58 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023” shall be 2023. substituted. Amendment 5. In section 5 of the principal Act, sub-section (9) shall be deleted. of section 5 of X of 1960. 6. In section 8 of the principal Act, in sub-section (4), for the words and figures Amendment V of of section 8 of “section 488 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898” the words and figures 1898. X of 1960. “section 144 of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023” shall be 46 of 2023. substituted. Amendment 7. In section 9 of the principal Act,- of section 9 of (1) in sub-section (2),- X of 1960. (a) for the portion beginning with the words “to a Juvenile Court” and ending with the words “of that section”, the following portion shall be substituted, namely :- “to the Child Welfare Committee which shall deal with the Child as per the provisions of the Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of 2 of 2016. Children) Act, 2015:”; (b) in the proviso, the words “a contagious leper or” shall be deleted; (2) in sub-section (3), for the words and figures “section 61 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1898” the words and figures “section 58 of the V of 1898. Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, 2023” shall be substituted. 46 of 2023. Amendment 8. In section 26 of the principal Act,- of section (a) in the marginal note, the words “leprosy patients and” shall be 26 of X deleted; 1960. (b) in sub-section (1), the words “or a leper”, at both the places where they occur, and the words “or leper asylum” shall be deleted; (c) in sub-section (2), the words “or is cured of leprosy” shall be deleted; (d) for sub-section (3), the following sub-section shall be substituted, namely:- “(3) The provisions of section 18 of the Mental Healthcare Act, 10 of 2017 shall apply to every beggar confined in a mental hospital under 2017. sub-section (1) after the expiration of the period for which he was ordered to be detained; and the time during which a beggar is confined in a mental hospital under that sub-section shall be reckoned as part of the period for which he may have been ordered by the Court to be detained:महाराष्ट्रा श्रा रा अ ाधारण्भाग्आठ, डि ेंर् ९् २ २५अअहारण्यण९्र, ्य १ 3 Provided that, where the removal of a beggar due to unsoundness of mind is immediately necessary, it shall be open to the authorities of the Institution in which the beggar is detained to apply to a Court having jurisdiction under said Act, for an immediate order of committal to a mental hospital until such time as the order of the State Government can be obtained in the matter.”. 9. In section 30 of the principal Act,- Amendment of section 30 (a) in sub-section (2), for the words and figures “section 6B of the of X of 1960. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890” the words and figures “section XI of 1890. 59 of 1960. 35 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960” shall be substituted; (b) in sub-section (3), for the words and figures “section 15 of the XI of 1890. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890” the words and figures “section 59 of 1960. 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960” shall be substituted; (c) in sub-section (4), for the words and figures “section 15 of the XI of 1890. Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1890” the words and figures “section 38 of the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960” shall be 59 of 1960. substituted. 45 of 1860. 10. In section 32 of the principal Act, for the words “the Indian Penal Amendment 45 of 2023. Code” the words and figures “the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023” shall of section 32 of X of 1960. be substitued. 11. In section 33 of the principal Act, for the words and figures “the Code of Amendment V of 1898. Criminal Procedure, 1898” the words and figures “the Bharatiya Nagarik of section 33 of X of 46 of 2023. Suraksha Sanhita, 2023” shall be substituted. 1960. 12. In section 34 of the principal Act, for the words and figures “the Code of Amendment of section 34 V of 1898. Criminal Procedure, 1898” the words and figures “the Bharatiya Nagarik of X of 1960. 46 of 2023. Suraksha Sanhita, 2023” shall be substituted.4 महाराष्ट्रा श्रा रा अ ाधारण्भाग्आठ, डि ेंर् ९् २ २५अअहारण्यण९्र, ्य १ STATEMENT OF OBJECTS AND REASONS The Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Act (X of 1960) contains the provisions relating to prevention of begging in the State of Maharashtra and for the matters connected therewith. 2. The Supreme Court in Federation of Leprosy Organ. (FOLO) and Anr. V/s Union of India and others (Writ Petition (Civil) No. 83/2010, alongwith W.P.(C) No. 1151/2017) vide order dated the 7th May 2025 has directed all the States to make suitable amendments in the State laws, Regulations, Statutory Rules or Bye-Laws, etc., pre or post Constitution, which contains the discriminatory expressions in respect of leprosy affected or cured persons. 3. Accordingly, in adherence to the said order of the Supreme Court, the Government has constituted a Committee under the Law and Judiciary Department for identifying such discriminatory provisions in State laws. The said Committee has identified that sections 9 and 26 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Act contain such provisions in respect of leprosy affected or cured persons and hence, recommended for amending the said Act, suitably. Therefore, it is considered necessary to make amendments in sections 9 and 26 of the Maharashtra Prevention of Begging Act. 4. An opportunity is also taken to make consequential amendments in the said Act to substitute references of the repealed Central and State Acts by existing Central Acts. 5. The Bill seeks to achieve the above objectives. Nagpur, ADITI TATKARE, Dated the 8th December 2025. Minister for Women and Child Development. ON BEHALF OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE, PRINTED AT GOVERNMENT PRESS AND BOOK DEPOT, CIVIL LINES, NAGPUR-440 001 AND PUBLISHED AT DIRECTORATE OF GOVERNMENT PRINTING, STATIONERY AND PUBLICATION, 21-A, NETAJI SUBHASH ROAD, CHARNI ROAD, MUMBAI-400 004. EDITOR : DIRECTOR, RUPENDRA DINESH MORE.