Bombay HC: Beggars & homeless persons should work, everything cannot be provided by the state

The Bombay High Court on Saturday said that homeless persons and beggars should also work for the country as everything cannot be provided to them by the state. 

A public interest litigation (PIL) was filed by Brijesh Aarya, demanding Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) to provide nutritious meals thrice a day, potable water, shelter and clean public toilets for homeless persons, beggars and poor people in the city.

The BMC informed the court that food packets were being distributed to homeless people all over Mumbai with the help of NGOs, and sanitary napkins were being provided to the women. The court accepted this submission and said no further direction is required to augment the distribution.

A division bench of Chief Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice G S Kulkarni said, "They (homeless persons) should also work for the country. Everyone is working. Everything cannot be provided by the state. You (petitioner) are just increasing the population of this section of the society.”.

The court also raised questions on the petitioner, saying that granting all the prayers sought in the petition would be like an "invitation to people not to work". 

The court, in its order directed the Maharashtra government to look if the homeless persons can use these toilets free of charge.