JUDGMENT :

Gita Mittal, J.

1. By way of the instant petition filed under Article 226 of the Constitution of India read with Section 103 of the Constitution of Jammu and Kashmir, a challenge is laid by Mr Suhail Rashid Bhat, an advocate practicing in this Court and a permanent resident of Jammu & Kashmir State, to the constitutionality of the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Act, 1960 (hereafter called the ‘Jammu & Kashmir Act, 1960’), and the Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Rules, 1964, (hereafter referred to as the ‘Rules, 1964’, for brevity) made in exercise of powers under Section 9 of the Act.

2. The writ petition seeks the following prayers:

“1. Issue an appropriate writ declaring the J&K Prevention of Begging Act, 1960, unconstitutional and violative of Articles 14, 15, 20 and 21 of the Constitution.

2. Issue an appropriate writ declaring the rules (Jammu & Kashmir Prevention of Beggary Rules, 1964) made under section 9 of the act declare the J&K Prevention of Begging Act, 1970, unconstitutional.

3. Issue a writ of certiorari quashing or setting aside the order d