Harsh penal provision for minor offences under PC-PNDT may go, says Ministry
Union Health ministry will review certain provisions in the PC&PNDT Act so that criminal cases are not slapped on doctors for minor offences.
Union Health Minister J P Nadda and Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi presided over the 25th Central Supervisory Baord meeting of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques where discussions were held in this regard.
A top Health Ministry official told PTI there were several instances where people were slapped with criminal offences for very minor things like not wearing an apron, not having a display board and other such things.
"Discussions were made on a range of issues. It was decided that a review will be conducted on certain provisions so that criminal punishment is not given for such minor things," the official said.
The Act was enacted to stop female foeticide and arrest declining sex ratio in India. It also bans sex determination.
The official said instead of slapping criminal cases for such minor things, there could provisions of fines among other things.
The official said other discussions were also made in which stress was given on thinking beyond the act itself in the context of raising awareness about it among others.
Senior officials of the Health Ministry including Union Health secretary C K Mishra, Director General of Health Services Jagdish Prasad and others were present during the meeting.
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