"Begging is a function of poverty. Nobody wants to beg. They have no choice," Justice Chandrachud said while turning down the prayer to restrain the homeless from begging on the streets.
The Supreme Court on Tuesday observed that it would not take an 'elitist view' and pass orders restraining beggars from begging under the Covid-circumstances.
Issuing a notice to the Delhi government and the Centre to respond on how vaccination of persons who require help from the State can be done, Justice Chandrachud said that begging a socio-economic problem and cannot be remedied by a direction of the Supreme Court.
"Begging is a function of poverty. Nobody wants to beg. They have no choice," Justice Chandrachud said while turning down the prayer to restrain the homeless from begging on the streets.
"The reason why people are required to take to the streets to beg is to meet elementary livelihood in the absence of education and employment. It is a social-economic problem and cannot be remedied in this way," the bench, also comprising Justice MR Shah, said.
The petition was filed by an individual named Kush Kalra, who sought to restrain those who are homeless from begging at traffic junctions, in markets and in public places to avoid the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic across India. The plea also sought directions to rehabilitate them.