More than 1/3rd sonography centres in Maharashtra shut: govt

In the affidavit, deputy secretary of home department Shivaji Patankar stated that 481 criminal cases have been lodged for violation of provisions of the PCPNDT Act.

Of the 9,015 sonography centres registered across the state, 3,021 have been permanently closed because they violated the provisions of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act allegedly resulting in cases of female infanticide, the state government said on Wednesday in an affidavit filed before the Bombay high court (HC).

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The affidavit has been filed by deputy secretary of home department Shivaji Patankar in connection with a suo motu public interest litigation taken up by the court on the basis of two Hindustan Times reports pertaining to safety of women and a public interest litigation filed by NGO Help Mumbai Foundation.

In the affidavit, Patankar stated that 481 criminal cases have been lodged for violation of provisions of the PCPNDT Act. Of these, 147 have been decided by courts and 66 doctors have been convicted, with 50 of them getting rigorous imprisonments. The remaining 46 doctors have been let off with penalties, the affidavit states.

The affidavit states that a few recommendations made by Justice (retired) Chandrashekhar Dharmadhikari Committee, which require amendments in legislations, have been referred to a special task force. The state government has issued a circular to all police units to keep an eye on Internet and block indecent websites, it states.