Karnataka High Court Questions State Over Delay In Appointing Nodal Officer To Coordinate Aid For Child Beggars

The Karnataka High Court on Wednesday (April 1) orally questioned the State government over non-appointment of a nodal officer who is to coordinate the action between various departments engaged in addressing the systemic issue of child beggary.

The court has also sought an explanation from the High Court Registry about not uploading the January 22 court order giving the said direction to the state authorities.

For context on January 22 the court had directed the State government to appoint a Nodal officer for coordinating action to be taken by various departments, organization in respect of a report by State Legal Services Authority recommending steps to help child beggars.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice Vibhu Bakhru and Justice C.M Poonacha was hearing a public interest litigation filed by Letzkit Foundation seeking a direction to the State to ensure that children are not permitted to market items such as toys, earbuds, flowers on the streets of Bengaluru particularly at traffic junctions.

During the hearing today the State Government said that it had constituted a 12-member committee on 09.03.2026 to address the issue of child beggary. It was submitted that the first meeting was held on 18.03.2026, and the meeting was attended by qualified doctors from NIMHANS, officials from the police department, child welfare department and other social welfare organisations, the state said.

The government counsel also sought the court's permission to circulate a memo pertaining to the constitution of the committee, which was in Kannada language. The counsel said that the State will submit a translated copy.

At this stage, the court orally asked the government as to why a nodal officer has not been appointed to coordinate the process as mentioned in the order dated 22.01.2026.

“Appoint a nodal officer and then coordinate, that's the direction, comply with it”, the court orally said.

It further orally asked the state government to file a statement explaining how the amount collected as 'beggary cess' has been utilized.

Meanwhile the government counsel submitted that the direction could not be communicated to the concerned department since the court's January 22 order has not yet been uploaded on the high court website.

The court thereafter in its order dictated, “The government counsel submits that the order dated 22.01.2026 has not been uploaded yet and therefore, it has not been communicated to the concerned authorities…The Registry should also submit an explanation as to why the order dated 22.01.2026 has not yet been uploaded”.

In the previous hearing the Karnataka State Legal Services Authority (KSLSA) had informed the court of the measures that it had recommended to help destitute children falling in each of the categories–including arranging make shift schools, establishing anganwadis and conducting discreet investigation by Police to track child abuse and trafficking.

Today, Advocate Maitreyi Krishnan, appearing for Karnataka State Legal Services Authority, submitted that the State has not yet complied with the court's previous direction to submit an action plan about assisting children engaging in beggary.

The State meanwhile said that the amount collected is deposited and maintained in an escrow account, and it directly goes to the Child Welfare Department. The counsel for the foundation, Senior Advocate Puttige Ramesh, objected to the said submission. He added that only 3 crores have been sent to the Child Welfare Committee whereas Rs 7 Crores have been collected in total.

The matter is listed on June 17.

The plea also seeks a direction to Primary Education department to issue directions to all educational institutions they will not deny admission to such children in the middle of the academic if their parents have to shift their place of work.

Case Title: Letzkit Foundation v. State of Karnataka & Ors.

Case No: WP 10096/2020