Railways ministry : Begging on trains soon to be decriminalised 

New Delhi: Begging on trains could soon be decriminalised as the railways ministry has moved a proposal considering the  provision of the Railway Act, 1989. The Railways ministry is reviewing laws that have often been used to harass people.

According to sources in the ministry, the move is part of an exercise to review and rationalise penalties under the provisions of the Railway Act, 1989. The Railway Board has asked for suggestions on the proposal as well. The move is also initiated to reduce the burden on the judiciary.

According to Section 144 of the Railway Act, if a person is found begging in a train or at a railway station, they could be imprisoned for a term that may extend to one year and/or be liable to pay a fine of up to Rs 2,000.

The Ministry of Railways has proposed to change this section to simply state that nobody will be allowed to beg in any railway carriage or on any part of the Railway’s property, without penalty.

“No person shall be permitted to beg in any railway carriage or upon any part of the Railway,” the ministry’s proposed amendment states.

Explaining the need for the change, a railway official said, “This Act is not used anyway, So it is better to do away with it since it is also an inhuman law, which criminalises and slaps fines on people who have no option but to beg. The Railways is reviewing the Act, so it was a good time to do away with this provision.”