Panaji
The Superintendents of Police (SPs) for North and South Goa could be added as respondent parties in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) filed by Advocate Moses Pinto that raised concerns about underprivileged children being forced into begging at traffic signals across the State.
The Division Bench comprising Justice Valmiki Menezes and Justice Nivedita Mehta granted petitioner Adv Pinto one week’s time to amend the cause title in the PIL writ petition to implead the North and South SPs. The matter is scheduled for hearing on February 18.
The petition, filed with photographic evidence last week, highlighted a surge in child beggars during the peak tourist season while also citing reports of adult beggars exploiting minors to gain sympathy from commuters.
Pinto stated that in early December 2024, he observed an increase in children begging at major traffic intersections, particularly in Margao, Panaji, and Mapusa. He also noted that on December 24, 2024, there was a marked rise in the use of children for begging at traffic signals in Goa.
The PIL sought judicial intervention to compel the respondent government and relevant departments to take immediate and effective measures to safeguard the fundamental rights of underprivileged children.
