Supreme Court orders on Proper Implementation of PCPNDT Act.

Voluntary Health Association of Punjab Vs. Union of India & Others
Writ Petition (Civil) No. 349 Of 2006
The Voluntary Health association of Punjab[VHAP], a NGO filed a writ petition in the Hon’ able Supreme Court of India in 2006 against Union of India and Ors., for effective  implementation of Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994. As for one reason or the other, the practice of female infanticide still prevails.
 This has affected overall sex ratio in various States where female infanticide is prevailing without any hindrance.
In order to stop prenatal sex determination leading to female foeticide, Parliament enacted the Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (hereinafter PNDT.)
This Act came into force on 1.1.96. And was not completely implemented. In particular, thousands of clinics were operating without registration.
There was virtually no cases of prosecution. On 31.3.03 the Act has been amended and titled as “the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act.” Act not implemented properly in some of the states as well as no prosecution has taken place against the violators of the act.
The Hon’ able Supreme Court has given judgment, on the implementation of PCPNDT Act and directed  as below:-
  1. The Central Supervisory Board and  the  State  and  Union  Territories Supervisory Boards, constituted under Sections 7 and  16A  of  PC&PNDT Act, would meet at least once in six months, so as  to  supervise  and oversee how effective is the implementation of the PC&PNDT Act.
  2. The State Advisory Committees and District Advisory Committees  should gather information relating to the breach of  the  provisions  of  the PC&PNDT Act and the Rules  and  take  steps  to  seize  records,  seal machines and institute legal proceedings, if they notice violation  of the provisions of the PC&PNDT Act.
  3. The Committees mentioned  above  should  report  the  details  of  the charges framed and the conviction of the persons  who  have  committed the  offence,  to  the  State  Medical  Councils  for  proper  action, including suspension of the registration of the unit and  cancellation of license to practice.
  4. The authorities  should  ensure  also  that  all  Genetic  Counselling Centers,  Genetic  Laboratories  and  Genetic   Clinics,   Infertility Clinics,  Scan  Centers  etc.  using  pre-conception   and   pre-natal diagnostic techniques and procedures should maintain all  records  and all forms, required to be maintained under the Act and the  Rules  and the duplicate copies of the same be sent  to  the  concerned  District Authorities, in accordance with Rule 9(8) of the Rules.
  5. States  and  District  Advisory  Boards  should   ensure   that   all manufacturers and sellers of ultra-sonography machines do not sell any machine to any unregistered centre, as provided  under  Rule  3-A  and disclose, on a quarterly basis, to the concerned State/Union Territory and Central Government, a list of persons to whom  the  machines  have been sold, in accordance with Rule 3-A(2) of the Act.
  6. There will be a direction to all Genetic Counselling Centers,  Genetic Laboratories, Clinics etc.  to  maintain  forms  A,  E,  H  and  other Statutory forms provided under the Rules and if these  forms  are  not properly  maintained,  appropriate  action  should  be  taken  by  the authorities concerned.
  7. Steps should also be taken by the State Government and the authorities under the Act for mapping of all registered  and  unregistered  ultra-sonography clinics, in three months time.
  8. Steps  should  be  taken  by  the  State  Governments  and  the  Union Territories to educate the people of the necessity of implementing the provisions of the Act by conducting workshops  as  well  as  awareness camps at the State and District levels.
  9. Special Cell be constituted by the State  Governments  and  the  Union Territories to monitor the progress of various cases  pending  in  the Courts under the Act and take steps for their early disposal.
  10. The authorities concerned should take  steps  to  seize  the  machines which have been used illegally and contrary to the provisions  of  the Act and the Rules there under and  the  seized  machines  can  also  be confiscated under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and be sold, in accordance with law.
  11. The various Courts in this country should take steps to dispose of all pending  cases  under  the  Act,  within  a  period  of  six   months. Communicate this order to the Registrars of various High  Courts,  who will take appropriate follow up action  with  due  intimation  to  the concerned Courts.

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