Sex selection: 436 cases filed in last 2 years

As part of efforts to improve falling sex ratio, 436 cases have been registered for violation of anti-sex selection laws in the last two years against 789 cases in past over 14 years, indicating better monitoring and effective enforcement by authorities.

This was stated by Health Minister Ghulam Nabi Azad while chairing the meeting of the Parliamentary Consultative Committee on Health, which discussed the issue of increasing gender imbalance in the country.

The 2011 Census revealed huge decline in the child sex ratio of India which fell to 914 girls aged 0 to 6 years per 1000 boys. This ratio was 927 girls per 1000 boys in 2001.

Addressing the MPs at the meeting on Wednesday, Azad said the persisting imbalances of gender disturbed the social and moral fabric of the country.

"The adverse child sex ratio can severely impact the delicate equilibrium of nature and destroy our moral and social fabric. This can lead to increased violence against women, abduction, rape, and trafficking," Azad said.

He also shared with the MPs the fact that the number of cases being registered under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Tests Act,1994 had increased tremendously over the last two years, which is indicative of much better inspection and monitoring under the law.

"The implementation of the Act rests with states. Effective enforcement of the law further rests with the District Appropriate Authorities," the Minister said.

The meeting came close on the heels of several major amendments the Central Supervisory Board under the Act has passed including limiting the number of clinics and facilities where ultra sinologists can practice in one district to two. This move stands challenged in the Bombay high court.

"As many as 436 cases have been registered for the violation of PC and PNDT Act in the last two years as against 789 registered between 1996 and 2010," Azad said.