Sri Vijaya Puram, Oct. 29: The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994, is a Central Legislation enacted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, to prohibit sex selection and regulate the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques. Amended in 2003, the Act aims to prevent female foeticide by banning the misuse of technology for sex determination before or after conception. The Act mandates the registration of all diagnostic and imaging centres and prescribes stringent penalties for violations.
In accordance with Section 18 of the PC & PNDT Act, every Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory, Genetic Clinic, or any facility equipped with ultrasound machines, imaging equipment, scanners, or any technology capable of determining the sex of the foetus or facilitating sex selection, must be registered under the Act.
Centres exclusively offering CT or MRI services and not currently registered under the Act are required to apply for fresh registration with the State Appropriate Authority. Centres already registered under the PC & PNDT Act are mandated to inform the Competent Authority about the equipment in use.
The Act provides for stringent penal provisions against any person, medical practitioner, or institution found violating its provisions. Advertisements, including those on the internet, relating to pre-conception and pre-natal sex determination or sex selection are strictly prohibited. Violations of the Act or its rules attract penalties including imprisonment, fines, suspension or cancellation of registration, and disciplinary action against individuals or institutions involved in sex selection or related malpractices. The general public is urged to report any instances of illegal sex determination or violations of the PC & PNDT Act to the Director of Health Services, the State Appropriate Authority, or the concerned District Appropriate Authority.
The Directorate of Health Services, A&N Administration, has registered a total of 25 healthcare facilities under the provisions of the PC & PNDT Act. All facilities were duly inspected prior to the grant of registration, and regular periodic inspections are conducted by the Appropriate Authority to ensure strict compliance with the Act’s provisions, rules, and guidelines.
The State Appropriate Authority reiterates its firm commitment to eliminating gender discrimination and promoting the welfare of the girl child through the effective enforcement of the PC & PNDT Act in the Andaman and Nicobar Islands.