New Delhi, Aug 10 (IANS) The Delhi High Court Monday asked the state government to implement stringent measures and co-ordinate with the neighbouring states to curb the menace of begging in the capital.
The government’s counsel told a division bench of Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul and Justice Ajit Bharioke that most of the beggars in the capital are from other states.

Counsel said co-ordination with the states is difficult without the intervention of the central government. The court then issued a notice to the central government on the issue.

On July 21, the court had pulled up the state government for its lax approach in dealing with beggars and set a 15-day deadline for it to explain steps taken to curb the menace.

The court had also asked the government to have more mobile courts to deal with beggary cases.

Delhi’s lieutenant governor has approved the setting up of courts with a special metropolitan magistrate, a stenographer and a probationary officer, the state government informed the court.

The capital still depends on a 50-year-old law - the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959 - to deal with begging.

Delhi has approximately 100,000 street children, nearly half of whom beg for a living.