Amazon, Flipkart selling books on sex determination

However, the books related to sex determination were removed from their portals soon after they were asked about sale of such books

Even as the country is grappling with the problem of bias against girl child, e-market places like Amazon and Flipkart are found selling books on sex determination of foetus.

Sale of such books take place though e-commerce even as Prime Minister Narendra Modi has launched the 'Save Girl Child' campaign to check gender imbalances and discrimination against the girl child.

Amazon India is found selling an eBook 'How to Determine the Sex of Your Baby: Fun Ways to Try to Predict the Sex of Your Unborn Baby', which as per the e-Commerce giant "...Provides several fun ways to try to determine the sex of your baby".

Homegrown online marketplace major Flipkart is selling the paperback edition of a book 'How to Choose the Sex of Your Baby' on its website.

According to Flipkart, the book "...Explains the simple, at-home, noninvasive Shettles method and presents detailed steps to take to conceive a child of a specific gender".

When asked about sale of books on sex determination, an Amazon spokesperson said: "We remain committed to ensuring all products sold on Amazon.In are consistent with local laws and regulations."

Flipkart said: "All our sellers are expected to adhere to certain guidelines if they sell with us. Any violation of these guidelines is taken very seriously.

"We take strict action against sellers who attract negative feedback about their service or are found to be engaged in selling products that are fake, in violation of copyright or any other applicable laws of the land."

Both Amazon and Flipkart, however, removed the books related to sex determination from their portals soon after they were asked about sale of such books.

This comes in the backdrop of the Supreme Court directing search engines like Google India, Yahoo India and Microsoft to strictly comply with Indian laws and block advertisements on sex determination of a foetus.

On January 28, the apex court directed the search engines to upload on their policy page and the terms of service page the court order that they would not advertise or sponsor any ads, which violate Section 22 of Prohibition of advertisement relating to Pre-natal Determination of Sex (PC-PNDT) Act, 1994.

Sabu Mathew George, who had filed a public interest litigation before the court on this matter, said: "Selling such books and eBooks is a violation of the PC-PNDT Act, 1994. The Act covers all such promotions."

Internet is becoming a "dangerous medium" when it comes to keep a check on spread of such literature, he told PTI.

George is also a member of the government appointed National Inspection and Monitoring Committee set up under PC-PNDT Act.