Voluntary Health Association of Punjab v. Union of India and Others

DIPAK MISRA, J. I. The two writ petitions being inter­ connected in certain aspects were heard together and are disposed of by the singular order. We shall first deal with the grievance agitated in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 349 of2006 and thereafter advert to what has D been asserted in the other writ petition. Be it stated immediately that the issues raised in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 349 of2006 are not agitated for the first time, for they had been raised on earlier occasions and dealt with serious concern and solemn sincerity. It is because they relate to the very core of existence of a civilized society, pertain to the progress of the human race, and expose the maladroit efforts to throttle the right of a I ife to feel the mother earth and smell its fragrance. And, if we allow ourselves to say, the issues have been highlighted with sincere rhetorics and balanced hyperboles and ring the alarm of destruction of humanity in the long run. It is not a group prophecy, but a significant collective predication. The involvement of all is obvious, and it has to be. The heart of the issue that is zealously projected by the petitioner is the increase of female foeticide, resultant imbalance of sex ratio and the indifference in the implementation of the stringent law that is in force. In essence, the fulcrum of the anguished grievance lays stress on the non- implementation of the provisions of The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (for brevity "the Act") and The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Rules, 1996 (for short "the Rules") framed under the Act by the competent authorities who are obliged to do so. VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 199 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] 2. The grievance has a narrative, and it needs to be stated. A 3. Realising the rise of pre-natal diagnostic centres in urban areas of the country using pre-natal diagnostic techniques for detennination of sex of the foetus and that the said centres had become very popular and had tremendous growth, as the female child is not welcomed with open arms in many Indian families and the consequence that such centres B became centres for female foeticide which affected the dignity and status of women, the Parliament brought in the legislation to regulate the use of such techniques and to provide punishment for such inhuman act. The objects and reasons of the Act stated unequivocally that it was meant to prohibit the misuse of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determination c of sex of the foetus, leading to female foeticide; to prohibit advertisement of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for detection or determination of sex; to permit and regulate the use of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for the purpose of detection of specific genetic abnormalities or disorders; to permit the use of such techniques only under certain conditions by the registered institutions; and to punish for violation of the provisions of the D proposed legislation. The Preamble of the Act provides for the prohibition of sex selection before or after conception, and for regulation of pre­ natal diagnostic techniques for the purposes of detecting genetic abnormalities or metabolic disorders or chromosomal abnormalities or certain congenital malformations or sex-linked disorders and for the prevention of their misuse for sex detennination leading to female foeticide and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. Be it noted when the Act came into force, it was named as the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 and after the amendments in 2001 and 2003, in the present incarnation, it is called The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994. 4. As the violence and cruelty meted out to women gradually got revealed due to rights and protections prescribed under various legislations, the Court perceived the magnitude of the crime. Such a situation compel Jed this Court, in Ajit S"vant Majagvai v. State of Karnataka 1 , while dealing with the physical violence, torture, mental cruelty and murder of the female particularly the wife, to comment on the degeneration of relationship and the prevalent atmosphere by observing that:- "3. Social thinkers, philosophers, dramatists, poets and 1 <1997) 1 sec 110 200 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2016] 8 S.C.R. writers have eulogised the female species of the human race and have always used beautiful epithets to describe her temperament and personality and have not deviated from that path even while speaking of her odd behaviour, at times. Even in sarcasm, they have not crossed the literary limit and have adhered to a particular standard of nobility of language. Even when a member of her own species, Madame De Stael, remarked "I am glad that I am not a man; for then I should have to marry a woman", there was wit in it. When Shakespeare wrote, "Age cannot wither her; nor custom stale, her infinite variety", there again was wit. Notwithstanding that these writers have cried hoarse for respect for "woman", notwithstanding that Schiller said "Honour women! They entwine and weave heavenly roses in our eat1hly life" and notwithstanding that the Mahabharata mentioned her as the source of salvation, crime against "woman" continues to rise and has, today undoubtedly, risen to alarming prop011ions. 4. It is unfortunate that in an age where people are described as civilised, crime against "female" is committed even when the child is in the womb as the "female" foetus is often destroyed to prevent the birth ofa female child. If that child comes into existence, she starts her I ife as a daughter, then becomes a wife and in due course, a mother. She rocks the cradle to rear up her infant, bestows all her love on the child and as the child grows in age, she gives to the child all that she has in her own personality. She shapes the destiny and character of the child. To be cruel to such a creature is unthinkable." f Emphasis addedl 5. We may repeat, the aforestated observation though made totally in a different context but nonetheless, it seemly stated the marrow of the problem. Needless to emphasise, the predicament with regard to female foeticide by misuse of modern science and technology has aggravated and enormously affected the sex ratio. To eradicate the malady, the Parliament, as stated earlier, had enacted the Act. In the first year of this century, a petition under Article 32 was moved for issuing directions to implement the provisions of the said Act by (a) appointing appropriate VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 201 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] authorities at State and district levels and the Advisory Committees; (b) A issuing direction to the Central Government to ensure that the Central Supervisory Board meets every 6 months as provided under the PNDT Act; and for banning of all advertisements of prenatal sex selection including all other sex-determination techniques which can be abused to selectively produce only boys either before or during pregnancy. A two­ B J udge bench in Center for Enquiry into Ilea/111 & Allied Tltemes (CEHAT) mu/ others v. Union of India and others: and Center for Enquiry into Ilea/th & Allied Themes (CEIIAT) mu/ others v. Union of India mu/ others; on 04.05.200 I issued ce11ain directions. Apa11 from the directions contained in the said orders, the Court, while finally disposing of the writ petition, issued the following directions:- "(a) For effective implementation of the Act, information should be published by way of adve11isements as well as on electronic media. This process should be continued till there is awareness in the public that there should not be any discrimination between male and female child. D (b) Quarterly reports by the appropriate authority, whiCh are submitted to the Supervisory Board should be consolidated and published annually for information of the public at large. (c)Appropriate authorities shall maintain the records of all the meetings of the Advisory Committees. (d) The National Inspection and Monitoring Committee constituted by the Central Government for conducting periodic inspection shall continue to function till the Act is effectively implemented. The rep011s of this Committee be placed before the Central Supervisory Board and State Supervisory Boards for any further action. (c) As provided under Rule 17(3), the public would have access to the records maintained by different bodies constituted under the Act. (f) The Central Supervisory Board would ensure that the following States appoint the State Supervisory Boards as per the requirement of Section 16-A: I. Delhi, 2. Himachal ' (2001) s sec 577 ' (2003) s sec 398 202 Pradesh, 3. Tamil Nadu, 4. Tripura, and 5. Uttar Pradesh. (g)As per the requirement of Section I 7(3)(a), the Central Supervisory Board would ensure that the following States appoint the multi-member appropriate authorities: I. Jharkhand, 2. Maharashtra, 3. Tripura, 4. Tamil Nadu, and 5. Uttar Pradesh. It will be open to the pa1ties to approach this Court in case of any difficulty in implementing the aforesaid directions''. 6. Despite the directions issued by the Cou1t, there had not been C proper implementation and that compelled the present petitioner, namely, Voluntary Health Association of Punjab to file the present Writ Petition seeking various directions. The Court on 08.01.2013 took note of the fact that the provisions had not been adequately implemented by the various States and Union Territories and accordingly directed for personal D appearance of the Health Secretaries of the States of Punjab, Haryana, NCT of Delhi, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Maharashtra, to examine what steps they had taken for the proper and effective implementation of the provisions of the Act as well as the various directions issued by this Cou1t. E 7. At a later stage, a reference was made to 2011 Census of India to highlight there had been a sharp decline in the female sex ratio in many States. It was also observed that there had been no effective supervision or follow-up action so as to achieve the object and purpose of the Act. It was observed that mushrooming of various sonography centres, genetic clinics, genetic counselling centres, genetic laboratories, F ultrasonic clinics, imaging centres in almost all parts of the country called for more vigi I and attention by the authorities under the Act. The Court also found that their functioning was not being properly monitored or supervised by the authorities under the Act or to find out whether they are misusing the pre-natal diagnostic techniques for determination of G sex of foetus leading to foeticide. 8. A reference was made to various facets of the Act and the Rules and ultimately the Court in Voluntary Health Association of Punjab v. Union of India mu/ others' issued the following directions:- '(2013) 4 sec 1 VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 203 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] "9.1. The Central Supervisory Board and the State and Union Territories Supervisory Boards, constituted under Sections 7 and 16-A of PN & PNDT Act, would meet at least once in six months, so as to supervise and oversee how effective is the implementation of the PN & PNDT Act. 9 .2. The State Adviso1y Committees and District Advisory Committees should gather infonnation relating to the breach of the provisions of the PN & PNDT Act and the Rules and take steps to seize records, seal machines and institute legal proceedings, if they notice violation of the provisions of the PN & PNDT Act. 9.3. The committees mentioned above should repo11 the details of the charges framed and the conviction of the persons who have committed the offence, to the State Medical Councils for proper action, including suspension of the registration of the unit and cancellation of licence to practice. 9 .4. The authorities should ensure also that all genetic counselling centres, genetic laboratories and genetic clinics, infertility clinics, scan centres, etc. using pre-conception and pre-natal diagnostic techniques and procedures should maintain all records and all forms, required to be maintained under the Act and the Rules and the duplicate copies of the same be sent to the district authorities concerned, in accordance with Rule 9(8) of the Rules. 9.5. States and District Advisory Boards should ensure that all manufacturers and sellers ofultrasonography machines do not sell any machine to any unregistered centre, as provided under Rule 3-A and disclose, on a qua11erly basis, to the State/Union Territory concerned and the Central Government, a list of persons to whom the machines have been sold, in accordance with Rule 3-A(2) of the Rules. 9.6. There will be a direction to all genetic counselling centres, genetic laboratories, clinics, etc. to maintain Forms A, E, Hand other statutory forms provided under the Rules and if these forms are not properly maintained, appropriate A action should be taken by the authorities concerned. 9.7. Steps should also be taken by the State Government and the authorities under the Act for mapping ofall registered and unregistered ultrasonography clinics, in three months' time. 9.8. Steps should be taken by the State Governments and the Union Territories to educate the people of the necessity of implementing the provisions of the Act by conducting workshops as well as awareness camps at the State and district levels. 9.9. Special cell be constituted by the State Governments and the Union Territories to monitor the progress of various cases pending in the cou1ts under the Act and take steps for their early disposal. 9.10. The authorities concerned should take steps to seize the machines which have been used illegally and contrary to the provisions of the Act and the Ru I es thereunder and the seized machines can also be confiscated under the provisions of the Code of Criminal Procedure and be sold, in accordance with law. 9.11. The various courts in this country should take steps to dispose of all pending cases under the Act. within a period of six months. Communicate this order to the Registrars of various 1-1 igh Courts, who wi II take appropriate fol low-up action with due intimation to the cotuts concerned." A further direction was given to file the Status Report within a period of three months. It is apt to note here that in the concurring op in ion Dipak Misra, J. only highlighted certain aspects that pertained to direction contained in paragraph 9.8. 9. We may profitably reproduce certain passages from the G concurring opinion:- "14. Female foeticide has its roots in the social thinking which is fundamentally based on certain erroneous notions, egocentric traditions, perve1ted perception of societal norms and obsession with ideas which are totally individualistic VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 205 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J .) sans the collective good. All involved in female foeticide deliberately forget to realise that when the foetus of a girl child is destroyed. a woman of the future is crucified. To put it differently, the present generation invites the sufferings on its own and also sows the seeds of suffering for the future generation, as in the ultimate eventuate, the sex ratio gets affected and leads to manifold social problems. I may hasten to add that no awareness campaign can ever be complete unless there is real focus on the prowess of women and the need for women empowerment. x x x x ·x 19. A woman has to be regarded as an equal partner in the life of a man. It has to be borne in mind that she has also the equal role in the society i.e. thinking, participating and leadership. x x x x x 21. When a female foeticide takes place, every woman who mothers the child must remember that she is killing her own child despite being a mother. That is what abortion would mean in social terms. Abortion of a female child in its conceptual eventuality leads to killing of a woman. Law E prohibits it; scriptures forbid it; philosophy condemns it; ethics deprecate it, morality decries it and social science abhors it. Henrik Ibsen emphasised on the individualism of woman. John Milton treated her to be the best of all God's work. In this context, it will be appropriate to quote a few lines from Democracy in America by Alexis de Tocqueville: F "If I were asked ... to what the singular prosperity and growing strength of that people [Americans] ought mainly to be attributed, I should reply: To the superiority of their women." x x x x x 32. A cosmetic awareness campaign would never subserve the purpose. The authorities of the Government, the non­ governmental organisations and other volunteers are required to remember that there has to be awareness camps 206 which are really effective. The people involved with the same must take it up as a service, a crusade. They must understand and accept that it is an art as well as a science and not simple arithmetic. It cannot take the colour of a routine speech. The awareness camps should not be founded on the theory of Euclidian geometry. It must engulf the concept of social vigilance with an analytical mind and radiate into the marrows of the society. If awareness campaigns are not appositely conducted, the needed guidance for the people would be without meaning and things shall fall apart and everyone would try to take shelter in cynical escapism. 33. It is difficult to precisely state how an awareness camp is to be conducted. It will depend upon what kind and strata of people are being addressed to. The persons involved in such awareness campaign are required to equip themselves with constitutional concepts, culture, philosophy, religion, scriptural commands and injunctions, the mandate of the law as engrafted under the Act and above all the development of modern science. It needs no special emphasis to state that in awareness camps while the deterrent facets oflaw are required to be accentuated upon, simultaneously the desirability of law to be followed with spiritual obeisance, regard being had to the purpose of the Act, has to be stressed upon. The seemly synchronisation shall bring the required effect. That apart, documentary films can be shown to highlight the need; and instil the idea in the mind of the public at large, for when the mind becomes strong, mountains do melt. 34. The people involved in the awareness campaigns should have boldness and courage. There should not be any iota of confusion or perplexity in their thought or action. They should treat it as a problem and think that a problem has to be understood in a proper manner to afford a solution. They should bear in mind that they are required to change the mindset of the people, the grammar of the society and unacceptable beliefs inherent in the populace." I 0. As directed in the judgment, the matter was listed and certain VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 207 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] clarifications were sought for by the Union of India with regard to the directions vide direction Nos. 2, 3, 4 and 6 pointing out thatthe authorities mentioned in direction No. 2 should also include appropriate authority under Section 17 and Section 17 A of the Act. With regard to direction No. 6, it was submitted that instead of Forms A, E and H, Forms A, D, F, G & H be substituted. The said prayers were allowed and the States were directed to file their respective status report. 11. On 16.9.2014 the Court took note of the directions already issued and proceeded to deal with I.A. No. 11 of2013 and recorded the submission of Mr. Sanjay Parikh, learned counsel that the Union of India has to animate itself in an appropriate manner to see that the sex ratio is maintained and does not reduce further. It was also urged by him that the Central Supervision Committee which is required to meet to take stock of the situation and the National Monitoring Committee who is required to monitor the activities, had failed in their duties. 12. Mr. Parikh had also drawn the attention of the Court to the proviso to Section 4(3) of the Act which reads as follows:- "4. Regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques.-On and from the commencement of this Act,- ( 1) ... (2) ... (3) Provided that the person conducting ultrasonography on a E pregnant woman shal 1 keep complete record thereof in the clinic in such manner, as may be prescribed, irnd any deficiency or inaccuracy found therein shall amount to contravention of the provisions of section 5 and section 6 unless contrary is proved by the person conducting such ultrasonography." F 13. It was propounded by him that the concerned authorities have not acted in accordance with the aforesaid provision in all seriousness as a result of which the nation has faced the disaster of female foeticide. On that day, Mr. Colin Gonsalves, learned senior counsel appearing for the writ petitioner had drawn our attention to the affidavit filed by the petitioner contending, inter a/ia, that the sex ratio in most of the States had decreased and in certain States, there had been a minor increase, but the same is not likely to subserve the aims and objects of the Act. After referring to the history of this litigation which has been continuing in this Court since long, he had submitted that certain directions are A required to be issued. 14. The Union of India was directed to file an affidavit of the Additional Secretary of Health and/or any other concerned Additional Secretary clearly stating what steps had been taken and on the basis of the steps taken, what results have been achieved. It was also directed B that all the States shall file their responses through the concerned Health Secretaries. The direction further contained that the affidavits shall be comprehensive and must reflect sincerity and responsibility. 15. On 25.11.2014 the Court noted that affidavits by certain States had been filed and certain States, namely, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh, c Bihar, Goa, Gujarat, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Meghalaya, Mizoram, Odisha, Tripura, and UT of Daman and Nagar Haveli and Puducherry had not filed the affidavits. Two weeks time was granted to file the necessary affidavits. At that juncture, it was thought appropriate to adve11 to the States by dividing them into certain clusters. I twas decided to deal with the situation pertaining to the States of Uttar Pradesh, D Haryana and NCT of Delhi first. The affidavit filed by the State of Uttar Pradesh was considered and in that context it was observed that the census conducted in 2011 cannot be the guideline for the purposes of PC-PNDT Act. It was felt that a different methodology was required to be adopted by the State. Paragraph 28 of the affidavit, which is of E significance, is extracted below:- "28. That it is pertinent to mention herein that according to "ANNUAL HEALTH SURVEY (AHS)" for the year 20 I 0-11, 2011-12 and 2012-13, improvement has been revealed in the State in respect of Sex Ratio At Birth, Sex F Ratio of Child (0 to 04 years age) and Sex Ratio in all age group, which is clear with the table given below: Yem of Sex Ratio Sex Ratio Sex Ratio Annual (at birth) (0 to 4 ]'<~ms (In all ages) H~alth Survey of 2010-11 904 913 9.\3 .:011-12 90S 914 944 2012-13 9~1 919 9.\6 It is necessary to mention here that on a query being made by the Court, learned counsel for the State was not in a position to explain on VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 209 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] what basis the said figures had been arrived at, for the same was not A reflectible from the assertions made in the affidavit. 16. As far as the State of l-laryana is concerned, the cha1t given in paragraph 15 of the affidavit indicated district-wise and month-wise sex ratio of births during the year 2014. It is as follows:- I "District wise and month wise Sex Ratio at Birth during year 2014 in Haryana State 1 as per CRS (Prov) IS District Up to Up to Up to Up to Up to I Up to I r. !No Jan.14 Ftb.14 Mar Aptil ?vlav I June I • 14 . I 14 I 14 !u i 1 ! Ambala 1012 993 959 939 913 i 910 ii Bhiwani 824 812 843 \ 848 846 i 832 l"" ! !3 Faridabad 929 892 889 884 890 I s90 14 I Fatehabad 859 898 890 888 886 8i4 \ 5 I Gurgaon 829 856 851 i 854 855 I s39 /6 Hissar 892 872 883 SIS 885 ) 880 i7 Jhaiiar 797 793 793 801 800 i 811 /8 Jind 886 876 878 911 915 \ 899 /9 Kaithal 953 921 920 928 927 918 110 I Kamal 911 899 888 881 889 894 111 Kurukshetra 956 904 900 892 890 888 !p ! • Mewat 920 942 9'1 j. 923 920 919 ) 13 Mohindergarh i77 776 797 786 782 J 770 J 14 J Palwal 867 1871 871 I 871 i Si6 815 . i 1' i • I Panchk"11la 853 i 837 860 \ 914 902 i 914 / 16 Panpat 924 931 915 904 903 I 895 ' J 17 Rewari 856 ! 850 849 822 816 I 806 j 18 Rohtak 894 884 865 I 863 859 ! 889 j 19 Sirsa 897 S72 879 885 892 886 ! 20 I i Sonepat 859 I ss~ 850 j 838 834 8". I J) ! 11 Yamuna na!!a 903 i 940 916 \ 897 894 \ 869 \· ,, I Haryana State SS9 884 881 ! SiS 878 ' Si4"' i l ' 1-1 A Nothing had been filed stating as to how the aforesaid figures had been reached except making a statement that the figures were arrived at on the basis of entry in certain registers. 17. On a perusal of the affidavit by the NCT of Delhi, it was noted that in paragraph 5, it had been stated, thus:- ''5. It is submitted that Sex Ratio at Birth in Delhi, which is a reliable indicator of violations under the PC & PNDT Act, has improved by 9 points in 2013 over the previous year. The data available from Civil Registration System indicates that Sex Ratio at Birth was 809 females per I 000 males in the year 200 I and it is currently at 895 in 2013 Annexure R-1." . 18. At that stage, the Court felt the need for verification of the documents that formed the basis on which these figures had been reached. It was also clarified that the figures that had been put forth did not show much indication of improvement but it was necessary to verify whether the figures that had been set forth was correct or not. The purpose was to find out whether there was degradation of sex ratio or stagnation or any steps had really been taken by the concerned States to improve/ enhance the sex ratio or not; and accordingly it was directed that a meeting be held under the auspices of National Inspection and Monitoring Committee wherein the Additional Secretary who had filed the affidavit for the Union ofindia and two other Joint Secretaries of the Ministry of· Health and Family Welfare shall remain present. The deponents who had filed the affidavits before this Colll1 on behalf of the State ofUttar Pradesh and NCT of Delhi were directed to remain present. The Director General, Health Services, State of Haryana and the Principal Secretary along with the Special Secretary, State of Uttar Pradesh were also directed to remain present in the meeting and to produce the relevant registe1·s/records before the said Committee on the date fixed. Mr. Gonsalves, learned senior counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Parikh, learned counsel for the impleaded respondent(s) were allowed to be present. The report was required to be filed before this Court by 10.12.2014. It was further directed that apart from the sex-ratio, the aforesaid three States shall also bring records with regard to the prosecutions levied by the State yearwise and the stage of the prosecution. VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 211 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] 19. Pursuant to order dated 25.11.2014, the Committee verified A the data submitted by three States, namely, Uttar Pradesh, Haryana and Delhi. As far as the State of Uttar Pradesh was concerned, on a perusal of the report, it transpired that the figures that were submitted by the State ofUttar Pradesh had been verified by the Committee and found to be correct. On a perusal of the report along with the documents that B had been annexed to, it was noticed that certain cases were pending for trial before the trial Court. Regard being had to the fact that they had been instituted long back, a direction was issued to the effect that the proceedings that were pending before for trial and where there was no stay order of the High Court or this Court, the same shall be taken up in quite promptitude and be disposed of within a period of three months C commencing 20th January, 2015. Be it stated certain other directions were issued to be complied with by the State of Uttar Pradesh. 20. At a subsequent stage, the data furnished by the States, i.e., Bihar, Himachal Pradesh, Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu were verified. On 15.4.2015 this Court's attention was drawn to the sex ratio in Delhi D which had been verified by the Monitoring Committee as per the population census. The said sex ratio relates to 2011 which reads as follows:- " Sex Ratio as per Population Census The universal sex ratio of Delhi as per population census for all age groups taken together was 82 I females per I 000 males in 200 I and it has become 866 females per I 000 males as per provisional data of census - 2011. Children sex ratio (0-6) of Delhi went down marginally from 868 (as per census 200 I) to 866 (as per census 2011 ). As can be seen from statement 1.3, at both points of the figures of Delhi were below than All India level. The district­ wise scenario for the children of0-6 years varies in different districts. Statement 1.3: Sex ratio of Delhi/ All India as per population Census Data SL No Item Census Year A District11ise sex ratio (Children of0-6 2001 ! 2011 I I years) I I South SSS i 878 ' South West 846 j 836 North West 857 i 863 212 North 886 872 Central 903 902 -········--··--· -··--·--·-···--·-··----~--··---------------- ------New Delhi 898 884 East 865 870 North East 875 I 875 West 859 867 Delhi Children of 0-6 years 868 866 -~!!_a-~~----------------·- 821 866 ·-·--·----· -· All India Children of O -6 years 927 914 All ages 933 940 Source: Population census - 2011" 21. Our attention was also drawn to the document which is 'Monthly monitoring of the sex ratio of institutional birth'. It stated thus:- "The data is collected on monthly basis from 50 major hospitals which accounts for 50.87% of total registered births in the year 2013 in Delhi. This helps to review the sex ratio at the highest level in the shortest possible time without waiting for the yearly indicators. The sex ratio ofinstitutional births on the basis of these 50 hospitals was also 895 in the year 2013. Efforts wi II be made to increase the coverage of health institutions under the monthly monitoring system to make this exercise meanin&ful and truly representative of the ground reality." · 22. Learned counsel appearing for NCT of Delhi, had drawn our attention to the affidavit filed by the Union of India and especially to Annexure 'E'. Annexure 'E' is only report on registration of births and deaths in Delhi in 2013. At page 114, the profile of birth Registration had been mentioned under the caption 'The birth registration in civil registration system'. It is as follows:- "During 2013, a total of3 70000 birth events were registered by all the local bodies taken together. Out of them, 1.95 lakhs (52.76%) were male and 1.75 lakhs (47.24%) were female. Statement 3.1: Total Number of Bilths registered under CRS sex-wise. VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 213 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] Year Total Births Male Female Sex Ratio i 2001 29628i 163816 132471 809 I (55.29) (44.71) I l I 2002 300659 164184 136475 831 i (54 .61) (.:!5.39) \ I I 2003 301165 165173 135992 I 823 i (54.84) (45.16) I 12004 305974 167849 138125 823 (54.86) (45.11) ' 2005 324336 li803l 146305 822 c (54.89) (45.11) I 2006 322750 176242 146508 831 I (54.69) (45,39) \ 2007 322044 174289 147755 848 I (54.12) (45.88) D I 2oos 333908 166583 167325 1004 I (49.89) (50.11) 2009 354482 185131 169351 915 (52.22) (47.78) 1 2010 359463 189122 170341 901 E I (52.61) (4 7.39) I I ! 2011 353759 186870 166889 893 (52.82) (47.18) 2012 360473 191129 169344 886 (53.02) (46.98) F 2013 370000 195226 174774 895" (52.76) (47.24) 23. The data furnished by the NCT of Delhi was contested on the ground that it was collected from 50 major hospitals. The Court noticed G that there had really been no improvement with regard to the sex ratio. The Court took note oft he submissions of Mr. Gonsalves, learned senior counsel for the petitioner and Mr. Parikh, learned counsel for the impleaded respondent(s) and observed that under Section I 6(2)(t)(ii) and (iii) there should be eminent women activists from non-governmental 214 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [20 I 6] 8 S.C.R. oraganisations and eminent gynaecologists and obstetricians or experts of stri-roga or prasuti tantra to be the members and thought it apt to state that there can be eminent women activists from non-governmental organizations, eminent gynaecologists and obstetricians or experts of stri-roga or prasuti tan/ra and eminent radiologists or sonologists but care has to be taken that they do not have conflict of interest. 24. On 15.09.2015, the Court noted the submission of Ms. Anitha Shenoy, learned counsel appearing for Dr. Sabu Mathew George, the newly imp leaded party, that the appropriate authorities are not following the mandate enshrined under Rule 18A of the Rules. Keeping in view the language employed in the said Rule, the Cow1 directed that all the appropriate authorities including the State, districts and sub-districts notified under the Act shall submit quarterly progress report to the Government oflndia through the State Government and maintain Form H for keeping the information of all registrations readily available. The Court further directed that the States shall file the compliance repo11 pertaining to sub-rule (6) of Rule 18A of the Rules and also directed counsel for the Union oflndia to apprise the Cou11 about the information received from the various appropriate authorities. 25. On 17.11.2015 when the matter was taken up, the Court adverted to the fact that the State ofOdisha, as directed, had provided the Committee relevant documents, especially the documents which are required for eradicating the deficiencies pointed out by the Committee. Be it noted, the Committee had earlier pointed out ce11ain deficiencies. The State had filed the documents in pursuance of the order of the Court and the Committee had filed report pertaining to the State ofOdisha. Paragraph 4 of the report reads as follows:- "4. The State ofOdisha had cited the data on Sex Ratio at Birth from the Civil Registration of bi11hs of State. State Provided the relevant data and C.D. M.O. Odisha. There are 314 rural registration units & I 00 urban registration units I 30 districts in Odisha State. All the data is based on the records of civil registration system. The Sex Ratio at Birth (SRB) data for the year 2013 submitted in the affidavit is 886 whereas as per the records submitted by the State data for the same period is 890. The representatives of the State clarified that in the affidavit, the figures were provisional." VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 215 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] 26. Mr. Gonsalves, learned senior counsel had also filed a chart A containing 'District-wise Sex Ratio at Birth ofOdisha State' commencing from the year 20 I 0 to 2014. The said chart is reproduced below:- "District wise sex ratio at birth of Odisha State SI.No 2014 Name of the 1 1 2010 District 2012 2013 2011 2 3 4 5 !6 7 ! 1 Angul 894 900 Si9 ! 890 904 Balasorc I 9'.!3 891 i 870 SiO 3 Argarh 923 889 913 891 913 4 Bhadrak I 923 891 876 I ss3 875 5 Bolangir ! 945 930 I 950 939 6 Boudh I 983 957 936 I 934 918 I 7 Cuttack 1 860 874 860 I 854 843 S Deogarh i 896 954 958 954 938 9 Dhenkanal i 856 833 850 I 845 849 10 __ ,_G_a-ia-p;at-i ---rsfs--+-93_0 __ ,_9J.7--tgw---892 11 Ganiam 902 880 867 813 794 12 Jagatsinghpur 912 905 842 777 852 13 Jaipur 863 876 828 824 823 14 Jharsuguda I 859 902 882 908 8i8 15 Kalahandi 888 935 968 ! 989 942 16 Kandhamal 912 943 950 I 962 940 I 17 Kwdrapara I 881 836 828 i 73.J i05 f-l_S __ f-K_' e_on_.i_ha_r __ -+-i _93_.J_-+-9'-2_3 _-+-9_50 ___ i 965 930 19 Khurda S92 Si6 884 · 885 842 21 Malkangiri 948 947 993 942 935 22 !1fayurbhani 955 934 936 , 931 933 i 2~ Nuapada i 945 956 955 i 909 1 1055 1 1 26 Puri I 933 SSS 874 1 Si 3 854 27 Rava~ada 955 954 939 931 945 28 Sambalpur 906 918 908 89 l 903 29 Subamapur 940 93.t 946 939 965 30 Sundargarh , 91! 892 865 89i 906 . Odisha I 911 902 S96 I 886 839" 8 216 Learned counsel submitted that when the sex ratio reduces below 900, there is a signal of a social disaster. He had pointed out that there were many districts where it had fallen below 900 and drawn the attention of the Court to two districts, namely, Kendrapara and Ganjam to high I ight that the sex ratio had gone down to 705 and 794 in 2014. Be it stated, the two districts were only referred to highlight how the sex ratio had fallen in the year 20 I 4 than what it was in 20 I 0. 27. We have adumbrated the history of the litigation, the directions issued by this Court from time to time and adverted to how this Court has appreciated the impact of sex ratio on a civilized society having regard to the legislative intendment under the Act, the suggestions given by the learned counsel for the petitioner, the verification done by the Monitoring Committee, and the crisis the country is likely to face ifthe obtaining situation is allowed to prevail. As is manifest, this Court had issued directions from 200 I onwards in different writ petitions and in the instant writ petition, as noticed earlier, number of directions were issued and, thereafter, certain clarifications were made. The narration shows the concern. 28. It needs no special emphasis that a female child is entitled to enjoy equal right that a male child is allowed to have. The constitutional identity of a female child cannot be mortgaged to any kind of social or other concept that has developed or is thought of. It does not allow any room for any kind of compromise. It only permits affirmative steps that are constitutionally postulated. Be it clearly stated that when rights are conferred by the Constitution, it has to be understood that such rights are recognised regard being had to their naturalness and universalism. No one, let it be repeated, no one, endows any right to a female child or, for that matter, to a woman. The question of any kind of condescension or patronization does not arise. 29. When a female foetus is destroyed through artificial means which is legally impermissible, the dignity of life of a woman to be born is extinguished. It corrodes the human values. The Legislature has brought a complete code and it subserves the constitutional purpose. We may briefly refer to the scheme of the Act and the Rules framed thereunder. Section 2 of the Act is the dictionary clause and it defines "foetus", "Genetic Counselling Centre", "Genetic Clinic", "Genetic Laboratory", "pre-natal diagnostic procedures", "pre-natal diagnostic techniques", "pre-natal diagnostic test", "sex selection", "sonologist or VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 217 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] imaging specialist". Section 3 provides for Regulation of Genetic Counselling Centers, Genetic Laboratories and Genetic Clinics. Section 3A imposes prohibition of sex-selection. Section 3 B prohibits the sale of ultrasound machine, etc., to persons, laboratories, clinics, etc., not registered under the Act. Section 4 regulates pre-natal diagnostic techniques. Section 5 stipu I ates written consent of pregnant woman and prohibition of communicating the sex of foetus. Section 6 prohibits determination of sex. Chapter IV of the Act deals with the Central Supervisory Board. Sections 7 - 16A deal with the constitution of the Board, meetings of the Board, functions of the Board, which includes reviewing and monitoring implementation of the Act and Rules made thereunder. Section l 6A commands the States and Un ion Territories to have a Board to be known as the State Supervisory Board or the Union· Territory Supervisory Board, as the case may be, to carry out the functions enumerated therein. Chapter V provides for the Appropriate Authority and Advisory Committee. Sub-section (4) of Section 17 deals with the powers of the Appropriate Authority. The said provision being significant is extracted hereunder:- "(4) the Appropriate Authority shall have the following functions, namely - (a) to grant, suspend or cancel registration of a Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic; E (b) to enforce standards prescribed for the Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory and Genetic Clinic; (c) to investigate complaints of breach of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder and take immediate action; F (d) to seek and consider the advice of the Advisory Committee, constituted under sub-section (5), on application for registration and on complaints for suspension or · cancellation ofregistration; ( e) to take appropriate lega I action against the use of any sex selection technique by any person at any place, suo motu or brought to its notice and also to initiate independent investigations in such matter; (f) to create public awareness against the practice of sex A selection or pre-natal determination of sex; (g) to supervise the implementation of the provisions of the Act and rules; (h) to recommend to the Board and State Boards modifications required in the rules in accordance with changes in technology or social conditions; (i) to take action on the recommendations of the Advisory Committee made after investigation of complaint for suspension or cancellation of registration." c 30. Section 17 A enumerates the powers of the Appropriate Authorities. The said provision reads as follows:- " I 7 A. Powers of Appropriate Authorities.-The Appropriate Authority shall have the powers in respect of the following maters, namely:- 0 (a) summoning of any person who is in possession of any information relating to violation of the provisions of this Act or the rules made thereunder; 1-1 (b) production of any document or material object relating to clause (a); (c) issuing search warrant for any place suspected to be indulging in sex selection techniques or pre-natal sex determination; and (d) any other matter which may be prescribed." 31. Section 18 deals with the registration of Genetic Counselling Centres, Genetic Laboratories or Genetic Clinics. Sections 19 and 20 provide for certificate of registration and cancellation or suspension of registration. Chapter VII deals with offences and penalties. Section 22 stipulates prohibition of advertisement relating to pre-conception and pre- · natal determination of sex and punishment for contravention and Section 23 deals with offences and penalties. Section 24 which has been brought into the Act by way ofan amendment with effect from 14.02.2003 states with regard to presumption in the case of conduct of pre-natal diagnostic techniques. Section 26 provides for offences by companies. Section 28 provides that no court sh al I take cognizance of an offence under the Act VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 219 OF INDIA [DlPAK MISRA, J.] except on a complaint made by the Appropriate Authority concerned, or A any officer authorized in this behalf by the Central Government or State Government, as the case may be, or the Appropriate Authority; or a person who has given notice of not less than fifteen days in the manner prescribed. Section 29 occurring in Chapter VIII which deals with miscellaneous matters provides for maintenance of records. Secti.on 30 B empowers the appropriate authority in respect of search and seizure of records. The rule framed under Section 32 of the Act is not comprehensive. Various Forms have been provided to meet the requirement by the Rules: On a perusal of the Rules and the Forms, it is clear as crystal that attention has been given to every detail. c 32. Having stated about the scheme of the Act and the purpose of the various provisions and also the Rules framed under the Act, the dropping of sex ratio still remains a social affliction and a disease. 33. Keeping in view the deliberations made from time to time and regard being had to the purpose of the Act and the far reaching impact of the problem, we think it appropriate to issue the following directions in addition to the directions issued in the earlier order:- (a) All the States and the Union Territories in India shall maintain a centralized database of civil registration records from all registration units so that information can be made available from the website regarding the number of boys and girls being born. (b) The information that shall be displayed on the website shall contain the birth information for each District, Municipality, Corporation or Gram Panchayat so that a visual comparison of boys and girls born can be immediately seen. ( c) The statutory authorities if not constituted as envisaged under the Act shall be constituted forthwith and the competent authorities shall take steps for the reconstitution of the statutory bodies so that they can become immediately functional after expiry of the term. That apart, they shall meet regularly so that the provisions of the Act can be implemented in reality and the effectiveness of the legislation is felt and realized in the society. (d) The provisions contained in Sections 22 and 23 shall be strictly adhered to. Section 23(2) shall be duly complied with and it shall be A reported by the authorities so that the State Medical Council takes necessary action after the intimation is given under the said provision. The Appropriate Authorities who have been appointed under Sections 17( I) and 17(2) shall be imparted periodical training to carry out the functions as required under various provisions of the Act. B (e) If there has been violation of any of the provisions of the Act or the Rules, proper action has to be taken by the authorities under the Act so that the legally inapposite acts are immediately curbed. (f) The Courts which deal with the complaints under the Act shall be fast tracked and the concerned High Courts shall issue appropriate C directions in that regard. (g) The judicial officers who are to deal with these cases under the Act shall be periodically imparted training in the Judicial Academies or Training Institutes, as the case may be, so that they can be sensitive and develop the requisite sensitivity as projected in the objects and reasons D of the Act and its various provisions and in view of the need of the society. (h) The Director of Prosecution or, ifthe said post is not there, the Legal Remembrancer or the Law Secretary shall take stock of things with regard to the lodging of prosecution so that the purpose of the Act E is subserved. (i) The Courts that deal with the complaints under the Act shall deal with the matters in promptitude and submit the quarterly report to the High Courts through the concerned Sessions and District Judge. U) The learned Chief Justices of each of the High Courts in the F country are requested to constitute a Committee of three Judges that can periodically oversee the progress of the cases. (k) The awareness campaigns with regard to the provisions of the Act as well as the social awareness shall be undertaken as per the direction No 9.8 in the order dated March 4, 2013 passed in Voluntary G Ilea/tit Associatio11 <~f Punjab (supra). (1) The State Legal Services Authorities of the States shall give emphasis on this campaign during the spread oflegal aid and involve the para-legal volunteers. (m) The Union oflndiaand the States shall see to it that appropriate VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 221 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] directions are issued to the authorities of All India Radio and Doordarshan A functioning in various States to give wide publicity pertaining to the saving of the girl child and the grave dangers the society shall face because of female foeticide. (n)All the appropriate authorities including the States and districts notified under the Act shall submit quarterly progress report to the B Government oflndia through the State Government and maintain Form H for keeping the infonnation of all registrations readily available as per sub-rule 6 of Rule I SA of the Rules. (o) The States and Union Territories shall implement the Pre­ conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex c Selection) (Six Months Training) Rules, 2014 forthwith considering that the training provided therein is imperative for realising the objects and purpose of this Act. (p) As the Union of India and some States framed incentive schemes for the girl child, the States that have not framed such schemes, D may introduce such schemes. 34. Before parting with the case, let it be stated with certitude and without allowing any room for any kind of equivocation or ambiguity, the perception of any individual or group or organization or system treating a woman with inequity, indignity, inequality or any kind of discrimination E is constitutionally impermissible. The historical perception has to be given a prompt burial. Female foeticide is conceived by the society that definitely includes the parents because of unethical perception oflife and nonchalant attitude towards law. The society that treats man and woman with equal dignity shows the reflections of a progressive and civilized society. To think that a woman .should think what a man or a society wants her to F think tantamounts to slaughtering her choice, and definitely a humiliating act. When freedom of free choice is allowed within constitutional and statutory parameters, others cannot determine the norms as that would amount to acting in derogation oflaw. Decrease in the sex ratio is a sign of colossal calamity and it cannot be allowed to happen. Concrete steps 0 have to be taken to increase the same so that invited social disasters do not befall on the society. The present generation is expected to be responsible to the posterity and not to take such steps to sterilize the birth rate in violation of law. The societal perception has to be metamorphosed having respect to legal postulates. 222 35. Now, we shall advert to the prayers in Writ Petition (Civil) No. 575 of 2014. The writ petition has been filed by Indian Medical Association (!MA). It is contended that Sections 3-A, 4, 5, 6, 7, 16, 17, 20, 23,25, 27 and 30 of the Act and Rules 9(4), 10 & Form "F" (including foot-note), which being the subject matter of concern in the instant writ petition, are being misused and wrongly interpreted by the concerned authorities thereby causing undue harassment to the medical professionals all over the country under the guise of the 'so-called implementation'. It is also urged that, implementation of steps and scrutiny of records was sta1ted at large scale all over the country and lot of anomalies were found in records maintained by doctors throughout the country. It is however pertinent to mention here that the majority of the defaults were of technical nature as they were merely minor and clerical errors committed occasionally and inadvertently in the filing of Form "F". It is also put f()lth that the Act does not classify the offences and owing to the liberal and vague terminology used in the Act, it is thrown open for misuse by the concerned implementing authorities and has resulted into taking of cognizance of non-bailable (punishable by three years) offences against doctors even in the cases of clerical errors, for instance non­ mentioning ofN.A. (Not Applicable) or leaving of any column in the concerned Form "F" as blank. It is further submitted that the said unfettered powers in the hands of implementing authority have resulted into turning of this welfare legislation into a draconian novel way of encouraging demands for bribery as well as there is no prior independent investigation as mandated under Section I 7 of the Act by these Authorities. It is also set forth that the Act states merely that any contravention with any of the provisions of the Act would be an offence punishable under Section 23( I) of the said Act and further all offences under the Act have been made non-bailable and non-compoundable and the misuse of the same can only be taken care of by ensuring that the Appropriate Authority applies its mind to the fact of each case/complaint and only on satisfaction ofa prima facie case, a complaint be filed rather than launching prosecution mechanically in each case. With these averments, it has been prayed for framing appropriate guidelines and safeguard parameters, providing for classification of offences as well, so as to prohibit the misuse of the PCPNDT Act during implementation and to read down this Sections 6, 23, 27 of PCPNDT Act. That apart, it has been prayed to add ce1tain provisos/exceptions to Sections 7, 17, 23 and Rule 9 of the Rules. VOLUNTARY HEALTH ASSOCIATION OF PUNJAB v. UNION 223 OF INDIA [DIPAK MISRA, J.] 36. In our considered opinion, whenever there is an abuse of the A process of the law, the individual can always avail the legal remedy. As we find, neither the validity of the Act nor the Rules has been specifically assailed in the writ petition. What has been prayed is to read out certain provisions and to add certain exceptions. We are of the convinced view that the averments of the present nature with such prayers cannot be entertained and, accordingly, we decline to interfere. 37. In the result, Writ Petition (Civil) No. 349 of 2006 stands disposed of in terms of the directions issued by us and Writ Petition (Civil) No. 575 of2014 stands dismissed. In the facts and circumstances of the case, there shall be no order as to costs. Kalpana K. Tripathy Writ Petitions disposed of. 8