Question : Pre-Natal Sex Determination

Will the Minister of HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE be pleased to state:

(a) whether the Supreme Court had directed the Union Government to constitute a nodal agency to monitor and trigger search engines to crack down on online pre-natal sex determination advertisements, if so, the details thereof;

(b) whether the nodal agency is required to receive complaints about illegal online advertisement under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act of 1994 and communicate the tip-offs to online search engines like Google, Yahoo and Microsoft, which would delete these advertisements within 36 hours of getting the information, if so, the details thereof;

(c) the steps taken by the Government to constitute a nodal agency which would give advertisements on TV, radio and in newspapers;

(d) the details of inspections conducted at clinics/hospitals/medical centres for ultra-sonography for the last three years;

(e) whether the Union Government has taken action against several medical professionals against female foeticide, if so, the details thereof;

(f) whether the Government is aware that several State Governments have filed cases against such doctors, if so, the details thereof; and

(g) the steps taken to counsel families against female foeticide and infanticide details of trainings/education camps conducted in this regard?

ANSWER
THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL)
(a): Yes, Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 16.11.2016 in WP 341 of 2008 has directed the Union of India to constitute a Nodal Agency to monitor and trigger search engines to crack down on online pre-natal sex determination advertisements.



(b): Yes, As per the directions of Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 16.11.2016 in WP 341 of 2008, anybody who comes across anything in nature of the advertisement which has the impact of identifying the sex of foetus shall be brought to the notice of the Nodal Agency and same shall be intimated to the concerned search engines by the Nodal Agency which shall be removed/ deleted within 36 hours and compliance shall be intimated to the Nodal Agency.
(c): The Union Government is required to comply with the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court vide its order dated 16.11.2016 in WP 341 of 2008.
(d): As per information received from States/UTs, the State/UT-wise details of inspection conducted under the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 is at Annexure-I.
(e) & (f): The Government of India has enacted the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, for prohibition of sex selection before or after conception and for prevention of misuse of pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex determination. The responsibility of implementation of the Act lies with State/ UT Governments, including taking action against medical Professionals for the offences of sex selection /sex determination. As per the quarterly progress report (QPR) received from States/ UTs, a total of 2352 court cases have been filed by the District Appropriate Authorities for violating the provisions of the PC&PNDT Act. 386 convictions have been secured under PC&PNDT Act, the medical licenses of 108 doctors have been suspended by the various State Medical Councils, following convictions. State wise details are at Annexure-II

(g): Financial support to the States and UTs for Orientation & Sensitisation Workshop and Information, Education & Communication campaigns for the implementation of the PC & PNDT Act under the National Health Mission (NHM).