Two docs get 2-year RI for conducting sex determination tests

A local court today convicted two doctors from the city for conducting sex determination tests and sentenced them to rigorous imprisonment for two years.
Chief Judicial Magistrate K N Gautam found Dr Umesh Londe and Dr Jawahar Pontivelue guilty under various sections of Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994 for conducting sex determination tests on a woman at their hospitals in 2011.
A raid was conducted on November 8, 2011 at their respective hospitals by Medical Officer Dr R T Kendre of Thane Municipal Corporation.
According to the prosecution, Dr Londhe, who runs Gopika Nursing Home in Naupada locality, had referred the woman to Dr Pontivelue's hospital for sex determination test which was in violation of PCPNDT Act.

The prosecution said the doctors took Rs 30,000 from the woman towards conducting the procedure.
In his order, the judge said "as both the accused came from the elite class and are well-educated, they deserved no leniency".
The court also imposed fine of Rs 5000 and Rs 10,000 on Dr Londhe and Dr Pontivelue, respectively.