Amendment status not verified — confirm the current text below against the official source.
Definitions.- ln this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,- (a) "alms" means anything such as money, food cooked or un- cooked, grain or clothing or anything of value given gratuitously to a beggar; (b) "begging" means- (i) soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, under any pretence; (ii) having no visible means of subsistence and wandering about or remaining in public place in such condition or manner as, makes it likely that the person doing so exists by soliciting or receiving alms; (iii) entering in any private premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms; (iv) exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease, whether of a human being or of an animal; or (v) allowing oneself to be used as an exhibit or exhibiting someone else (e.g. a child or some article, animal, bird, snake, etc.) for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms; but does not include soliciting or receiving money or food or gifts for a purpose authorised by any law, or authorised in the manner prescribed; (c) "beggar" means a person who is found begging; (d) "child" means a boy who has not attained the age of sixteen years or a girl who has not attained the age of eighteen years; (e) “guardian" in relation to a child, includes any person who, in opinion of the competent authority having cognizance of any proceeding in relation to the child, has, for the time being, the actual charge of, or control over that child; (f) "parent" means the father or the mother of child; (g) "prescribed" means prescribed by rules made under this Act; (h) "public place" means and includes any place or precincts thereof to which, for the time being, the public have or are permitted to have an access, whether on payment or otherwise, and includes any public conveyance, a passenger bus and a railway compartment; (i) "special police officer" means a police officer not below the rank THE HIMACHAL PRADESH PREVENTION OF BEGGARY ACT, 1979 3 of an Inspector appointed by or on behalf of the State Govern- ment to be in charge of police duties within a specified area for the purpose of this Act.