Latest news with #PCPNDTAct
Time of India
3 days ago
- Health
- Time of India
Nullifying violations of PCPNDT Act should be ensured, says Coimbatore collector
Coimbatore: Dr R M Meenakshi Sundari, the joint director (Acts) of the Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services (DM&RHS), Chennai, has stressed the need to strictly enforce the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act. "Although the Act is in force, achieving 100% compliance remains a challenge," Dr Sundari said while addressing a one-day training programme for medical staff from across the Coimbatore region in the city on Thursday. Health officials, medical practitioners, and representatives of diagnostic centres from both government and private sectors from Tirupur, Nilgiris, Erode and Coimbatore districts participated in the programme. District collector Pavankumar G Giriyappanavar released an exclusive PCPNDT Act book during the programme. While addressing the participants, the collector said, "The Act pertains to addressing the ethical and social issues of sex determination of a child. Due to the effective enforcement of this Act, Tamil Nadu has been showing a better sex ratio when compared to other states. Even then, achieving 100% compliance and nullifying violations of this Act should be ensured, for which the training programme is necessary. The programme is organised to underscore the legal nuances and provide a platform to discuss the improvements or changes required in the Act. " Dr Sundari presented a few litigation cases from 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005 and 2008 that led to streamlining the Act and providing clarity on its enforcement.
Hans India
29-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Officials Vow Strict Action Against Sex Determination: PCPNDT Act Reviewed in Jogulamba Gadwal
Gadwal: A District Advisory Committee meeting on the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, was held at the District Medical and Health Department Office in Jogulamba Gadwal under the chairmanship of Dr. S.K. Siddappa, District Medical and Health Officer (DMHO). The meeting focused on reviewing the implementation of the PCPNDT Act and ensuring strict compliance across all departments. Addressing the gathering, Dr. Siddappa emphasized the urgent need to spread awareness at the field level about the ban on sex determination tests and the legal consequences of female foeticide. He urged officials from various line departments to engage with communities regularly to educate people about the Act, especially in rural and remote areas. Highlighting the seriousness of the issue, the DMHO stated that any person or medical professional found violating the PCPNDT Act would face up to 3 years of imprisonment, a fine of ₹50,000, and non-bailable charges. Repeat offenders could face 5 years in prison and fines up to ₹1 lakh. In addition, the licenses of medical practitioners and the registration of clinics involved could be suspended or permanently cancelled. Dr. Siddappa also called for widespread awareness of related laws, such as the POCSO Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, which are crucial for protecting women and children's rights. He further advised that pregnant women experiencing mental health issues should be made aware of the 14416 toll-free helpline, which offers free mental health support. The meeting was attended by key health and welfare officials, including Dr. B. Damayanthi, Professor and HOD, Dr. G. Prasoona Rani, Maternal and Child Health Officer, Tanveer Rizwana, District Immunization Officer, Dr. G. Raju, Program Officer, NCVBDCP, K. Madhusudan Reddy, Deputy DEMO, P. Narendra Babu, DVLM, G. Narasayya, Health Assistant, and B. Narsinglu, District Child Protection Officer. Representatives from the Women and Child Welfare Department, the SAHKI One Stop Centre, and NGOs such as Parashuramudu also participated. The meeting concluded with a unanimous resolution to intensify interdepartmental cooperation, enhance monitoring mechanisms, and ensure that all diagnostic centers strictly adhere to the PCPNDT Act. Officials reiterated their commitment to protecting the rights of the girl child and improving the gender ratio in the district.
The Hindu
24-05-2025
- The Hindu
Sri Sathya Sai Collector warns against gender determination tests
Sri Sathya Sai District Collector T.S. Chetan on Saturday (May 24) said gender determination test is a criminal offense under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT Act, 1994) and warned of action against scanning centres conducting the tests and those encouraging it. He was addressing medical and paramedical staff and individuals and entities working against gender determination test at an event in the collectorate. 'The departments of medical and health, women and child welfare, civic bodies, revenue and police as well as NGOs should strive to enforce the law,' he said, adding that searches should be carried out frequently in scanning centres suspected to be conducting such tests. Mr. Chetan said scanning centres violating the Act would be sealed and the operators would face serious legal consequences, including imprisonment. Additional District Judge K. Shailaja underscored the need for maintaining strict surveillance across the border areas with Tamil Nadu and Karnataka. The Collector also reviewed the birth and death records at civic bodies and private nursing homes. He directed the District Medical and Health officer to submit a report on mandal-level sex ratio.
Hans India
18-05-2025
- Health
- Hans India
Chittoor collector slams officials over illegal sex determination tests
Chittoor: Chittoor district Collector Sumit Kumar has expressed strong dissatisfaction over the lack of coordination between government departments in preventing illegal sex determination tests being carried out in violation of the PCPNDT Act, 1994. Chairing the District Level Advisory Committee meeting on Saturday, the Collector questioned why health officials were unaware of such critical violations happening for a long time in the district. He pointed out that despite the presence of grassroots workers like ASHAs and ANMs, there was no awareness when a woman conceived for the third time after having two girl children—a crucial indicator in such cases. 'Why is this information not reaching the department? Why haven't departments like Health and Women & Child Welfare held coordination meetings over the past ten years involving CDPOs and medical officers?' the Collector asked. He noted that even the way Anganwadi workers distribute nutritional supplements to pregnant women could be a clue to their health condition—an area being overlooked due to poor inter-departmental coordination. To better understand field-level issues, he directed that two senior district officials personally interact with ASHAs, ANMs, and Anganwadi workers. He urged the health department staff to work responsibly to curb illegal sex determination practices. He also highlighted that regions bordering other states like Nagari, Palamaner, Punganur, and V Kota – had a higher incidence of unauthorised abortions in private hospitals. The DM&HO was directed to hold division-wise meetings with RMP doctors to address the issue. Field-level officers were also instructed to conduct visits and gather ground realities. Additionally, the Collector instructed the Drugs Inspector to ensure that no medical shop dispenses medicines without a doctor's prescription. He also responded to concerns raised by the Women's Police CI regarding unauthorised sale of scanning machines and ordered a complete review of related records. DM&HO Dr DT Sudha Rani, ICDS PD Venkateswari, DIO Dr C Hanumantha Rao, District Superintendent of Medical Services Dr Ushashree, Drugs Inspector Keerthana, CI Maheswar and SI Nagasoujanya from the Women's Police Station, along with other relevant officials were present.
Time of India
16-05-2025
- Time of India
Woman accused of offering fetal sex test to police decoy discharged
Rajkot: A sessions court here allowed the discharge application of a woman who was running a hospital and was accused by Rajkot police in 2019 of offering to conduct a sex determination test on a fetus. Hina Tilala filed applied for discharge from the case filed under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 ( PCPNDT Act ) and Sections 315 and 511 of the Indian Penal Code . According to the case papers, on April 2, 2019, a woman police constable had been sent as a decoy to Tilala's hospital. The constable asked for a sex determination test and an abortion if the fetus was found to be female. Tilala allegedly accepted the request. An FIR was then registered against her at DCB police station. Police investigated and filed a chargesheet against her, after which the case was committed to the sessions court. The public prosecutor opposed the discharge application and submitted that Tilala had been operating a sonography machine without a valid license and adequate material existed to frame charges against her. The district judge, Dharmender Singh, in his order dated May 13, after considering the submissions of both parties, noted: "It is an established legal position that under Section 28 of the PCPNDT Act, the court is barred from taking cognizance of offences punishable under the Act unless a complaint is made by the appropriate authority or an authorized officer." The court further noted: "In the present case, the prosecution was initiated through a police FIR and not a complaint from the appropriate authority. Considering the above legal position and the binding precedent of the Gujarat high court, this court holds that cognizance taken in the present case is barred under Section 28 of the PCPNDT Act." The court also found, prima facie, that no case was made out for offences under Sections 315 and 511 of the IPC. The court allowed Tilala's discharge application and clarified that the order would not preclude the prosecution from initiating a complaint under the PCPNDT Act in accordance with Section 28.
