Expressing anger over the “sloppy” attitude of the Centre in checking female foeticide, the Supreme Court on Tuesday called for specific response over the steps taken by the authorities and the results achieved. Underlining that the pertinent laws were not being implemented and everything was being left to fate, a bench led by Justice Dipak Misra directed the Centre and state governments to file affidavits on what actions they have taken to implement Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act that prohibits pre-natal sex determination. “What are you (Centre) doing? You make law but don’t do anything to implement it and leave it to fate. You are becoming sloppy on the issue and appropriate authorities are not taking any action at all,” it said. The bench gave four weeks for filing of affidavits, saying: “We may hasten to add that the affidavits shall be comprehensive and must reflect sincerity and responsibility. It should not be an affidavit in formality.” Describing female foeticide as the “worst type of dehumanisation of human race” and a “pervert perception of societal norms”, the court had last year issued a string of directives to the Centre and states for putting in place a tough regulatory mechanism and a crusade-like awareness campaign to check decline in the female child sex ratio. Lamenting the ineffective implementation of the law and an alarming dip in the child sex ratio, the bench passed a slew of measures on a PIL by NGO Voluntary Health Association. It ordered all the governments to ensure strict implementation of the Act, providing for urgent steps to seize records, seal ultrasound machines and commence legal action for violations of the Act.
