Early Times Report
Jammu, Feb 25: In a Public Interest Litigation filed by Sudesh Langeh seeking quashment of Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 along with Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Rules, 1964 as unconstitutional as it violates the Fundamental Rights guaranteed under Articles 14, 19, 20, 21 and 22 of the Constitution of India, a Division Bench of State High Court Comprising Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice Tashi Rabstan after hearing Adv Aparjita Jamwal for the PIL observed that it is submitted that the response on behalf of the Social Welfare Department shall be filed during course of the day. It is submitted by the counsel for the petitioner that Section 144 (2) and (3) of the Indian Railway Act, 1989 also criminalizes begging and she may be permitted to incorporate a challenge to these statutory provisions in the present writ petition in which she lays challenge to the constitutionality of Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 and the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Rules, 1964. DB further observed that in view thereof, DB permit the petitioner to incorporate challenge to Section 144 (2) and (3) of the Indian Railway Act, 1989 in the present petition. It is necessary to implead Union of India through Ministry of Railways as party respondent. Therefore, we accept the oral request of the learned counsel for the petitioner to implead Union of India through Secretary, Ministry of Railways, Rail Bhawan, New Delhi as party respondent. |
