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Journalism of Courage
Surat hospital sealed for ‘foetal sex determination’, 2nd FIR against owner in 6 months
Minister warns of action against erring officials; show-cause notice issued to Chief District Health Officer
In an official statement, the IMA said that they did not support or protect any member or office-bearer involved in violations of the PCPNDT Act. (Representative Image)
The Gujarat Health Department on Wednesday sealed Mamta Multispeciality Hospital in Surat after a raid on the premises on the orders of the Health Minister Praful Pansheriya whose office had received information that the hospital was allegedly involved in foetus sex determination and selection practices that are banned in India under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act.
Following the raid, the hospital was sealed and an FIR was filed against the owner, Ramgopal Shrikishan Khandelwal, a pharmacist, under the PCPNDT Act, the Gujarat Clinical Establishments Act and the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act on May 4.
Khandelwal earlier operated Shivay Multispeciality hospital, which was sealed on November 6, 2025, after an FIR filed at Varachha police station, for violations under the same laws against sex determination. The hospital was opened on court orders on January 29, 2026. The owner then allegedly rebranded the premises as Mamta Multispeciality hospital and opened for business recently, Police Inspector Ajitsinh Vala said, adding that Khandelwal would be arrested soon.
The health minister on Wednesday warned of taking action against erring officials whose job, he said, was to stop such unlawful activities.
Accordingly, the office of the Gujarat Health Commissioner issued a show-cause notice on Dr Anil B Patel, the Chief District Health Officer (CDHO) of Surat, who is also the ex-officio District Appropriate Authority for the implementation of the PCPNDT Act.
In a video statement on Wednesday, Pansheriya said, “Action has been taken against Mamta Multispeciality Hospital in Surat for sex determination and illegal termination of pregnancy. When I received information of such illegal activities at 2:08 pm on May 4, I ordered the district health department to raid the premises. They found three women who had come here to avail these services. Today, when we are working towards the motto of ‘Beti bachao, beti padhao’, there are still women who want to kill the female child in their womb.”
The district health administration, the minister said, had shown great negligence, “because there had been 3-5 people coming per day for sex determination and termination of pregnancy”.
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“For a civilised society, this is a very serious issue. We have issued a show-cause notice to the district health officer.. We will take action against all officials found negligent in matters of health, drug safety or food safety,” he said.
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