PCPNDT Act: Madras High Court hauls up TN, Centre

The Madras High Court today hauled up the Tamil Nadu government and the Centre over nuances involved in the implementation of PCPNDT Act, its recent amendment and implications, on a petition by a doctor who challenged his suspension under it for alleged violations.
Justice N Kirubakaran asked the State to file its reply on aspects like raids of clinics and nursing homes for the proper implementation of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Technique(Prohibition of Sex Selection Act), 1994.
He asked the Centre's counsel why a provision of the Act was recently amended, removing the State Medical council's power to suspend doctors for violations till the completion of criminal trial.

"How many raids you conducted ? How many persons have been arrested?. How many hospitals, clinics and scan centres are there in Tamil Nadu? What is the coordination between the TN Medical Council and the health department" he asked the counsel for the State.
Stating that the government should take steps to expand the number of teams to conduct raids, the judge said mere issuance of Government Orders alone would not suffice.
Yesterday, in the same case, Justice Kirubakaran had directed the Chairman of Tamil Nadu Medical Council to appear before the court. The chairman was asked to appear to explain how a doctor suspended from practise for violation of PCPNDT Act continued to practise in his village, violating the council's orders.

Dr K Ramachandran who runs a nursing home with a scan centre in Cuddalore District was suspended in May last for violations under the PCPNDT Act and he challenged it.
When the matter was taken up today, lawyer representing the council submitted that though the chairman had resigned, he wanted to appear in the court in the matter.
However, he could not do so since the flight was delayed. The court issued notices to the State and Centre to file their replies.