On June 1, 2021, the Delhi High Court sought response of the city government and police on a plea seeking to restrain beggars and vagabonds from begging at traffic junctions and markets to prevent the spread of COVID-19 as many of them do not wear masks or maintain social distancing.
A division bench of Chief Justice D N Patel and Justice Jyoti Singh gave notice to the Delhi government, the Urban Shelter Improvement Board (DUSIB), and the police seeking their stand on the petition by a lawyer.
The petition was filed by Narender Pal Singh stating that he had seen beggars touch cars at traffic lights ‘'without sanitizing their hands” and therefore, they may themselves have a possibility of getting infected or becoming carriers of the COVID-19 infection.
The petitioner expressed that beggars at traffic light points and market areas also risk public health because of their low standards of personal hygiene and the absence of any vaccination facility.
The plea also states that these directions will benefit the "public at large" by keeping an eye on the rampant spread of the viral infection, which "is being easily passed by beggars, and vagabonds roaming on traffic junction(s)."
The plea therefore asking for a writ like a mandamus or direction or order to the respondents asked to "set up a road map to control beggars and vagabond from begging on traffic junction and markets to avoid spreading Covid-19" and "rehabilitate them" with the assistance of DUSIB, and to additionally ensure food, shelter, and access to medical facilities, including vaccination.
The petition also seeks the imposition and execution of strict temporary measures to confine begging at traffic junctions and marketplaces.
At last petitioner prayers for Covid-19 testing of these people and appropriate rehabilitation as per covid results.
