The Maharashtra cabinet has taken a significant step towards respectful legislation by approving amendments to remove derogatory terms like 'leper' from the Bombay Prevention of Begging Act, 1959. This move aligns with the Supreme Court's directive urging all states to purge demeaning terminology from legal documents.

Officials from the Law and Judiciary Department proposed the changes to sections 9 and 26 of the Act, focusing on detention and medical examination of beggars. The cabinet meeting, presided over by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, has ratified these amendments.

The 1959 Act criminalises the act of begging and provides measures for the arrest, inquiry, and rehabilitation of beggars. The latest amendments represent a broader effort to ensure that legal terminology reflects d

See Full Page