Section 139: (1) Whoever kidnaps any child or, not being the lawful guardian of such child, Kidnapping or

obtains the custody of the child, in order that such child may be employed or used for the maiming a
child for
purposes of begging shall be punishable with rigorous imprisonment for a term which shall purposes of
not be less than ten years but which may extend to imprisonment for life, and shall also be begging.
liable to fine.
(2) Whoever maims any child in order that such child may be employed or used for the
purposes of begging shall be punishable with imprisonment which shall not be less than
twenty years, but which may extend to life which shall mean imprisonment for the remainder
of that person’s natural life, and with fine.
(3) Where any person, not being the lawful guardian of a child employs or uses such
child for the purposes of begging, it shall be presumed, unless the contrary is proved, that he
kidnapped or otherwise obtained the custody of such child in order that such child might be
employed or used for the purposes of begging.
(4) In this section “begging” means—
(i) soliciting or receiving alms in a public place, whether under the pretence of
singing, dancing, fortune telling, performing tricks or selling articles or otherwise;
(ii) entering on any private premises for the purpose of soliciting or receiving
alms;

46 THE GAZETTE OF INDIA EXTRAORDINARY
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(iii) exposing or exhibiting, with the object of obtaining or extorting alms, any
sore, wound, injury, deformity or disease, whether of himself or of any other person or
of an animal;
(iv) using such child as an exhibit for the purpose of soliciting or receiving alms.