Sex Determination Act: Why does the IMA chief want changes?

‘We are coming out with our point of view. Let the government also give their point of view,’ says IMA chief Dr RV Asokan

4 min readUpdated: Oct 21, 2024 10:09 PM IST

The government’s Sample Registration System (2018-2020) shows a birth sex ratio of 907 girls per 1,000 boys. (Representational Image/Express Archives)

Indian Medical Association (IMA) president Dr RV Asokan has created a stir by reiterating his old stance that a legal ban on sex determination tests had stopped female foeticide but not female infanticide, arguing that a social evil cannot always have a medical solution. Instead some provisions wrongfully harass the doctor and the law must be amended.

Having worked on a document to revamp the existing Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, which prohibits prenatal diagnostic techniques for determination of the sex of the foetus and holds doctors accountable, Asokan said banning sex determination and then penalising the doctor is a skewed approach. “It is a massive failure and has not shown results. Instead it has harassed obstetricians, radiologists and even cardiologists,” Dr Asokan says.

“This is not the first time that I have been talking about this issue. We want the government to rethink this Act as it is crucifying the doctors for a social evil,” he argues.

What are the doctors’ grievances?

“Assuming that all doctors are anti-life is very wrong. The IMA is aggrieved over certain rules in the Act and with doctors being pulled up for technical lapses and incorrect filling of forms,” says Dr Asokan. The law mandates that ultrasound centres, genetic labs and clinics should maintain records.For instance, the regulation states that machines cannot even be moved from one room to another room. “Moreover, not filling up Form F is considered to be equal to female foeticide,” he elaborates. Form F under the PC-PNDT Act records the medical history of a pregnant woman and why the ultrasound is being done. Under the present law, doctors not filling up Form F properly are given the same punishment as someone who does a sex determination test.

“In Maharashtra, six doctors have been jailed for six months. In Coimbatore, a woman has been jailed for two years. We are coming out with our point of view. Let the government also give their point of view,” Dr Asokan says

Should the Act be modified?

“No,” says Varsha Deshpande, member of the National Inspection and Monitoring Committee, who has conducted over 50 decoy (sting operations) and secured 18 convictions under the PC-PNDT Act. “If the IMA is worried about the Act, then let it expose the wrongdoers in the medical fraternity. Expose your own members and take disciplinary action against them,” she says.

Also Read | The spread of sex selection in India: Not just the foreign hand

What about gender ratio?

The government’s Sample Registration System (2018-2020) shows a birth sex ratio of 907 girls per 1,000 boys. The ideal sex ratio at birth should be 960 or 970 girls per 1000 boys. “Clearly clandestine operations are still under way and the law cannot be diluted,” says Deshpande.

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Prof P M Kulkarni, former professor at the School of Social Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU), New Delhi, admits to the practice of sex selection although there had been some improvement in Himachal Pradesh and Punjab. This could be attributable to the implementation of the Act or campaigns by social reformers. However, in some areas data shows fluctuations and does not indicate sufficient change, like Maharashtra and Gujarat, Dr Kulkarni says. “What is required is a proper implementation of the Act and changes in attitudes,” he adds.

Anuradha Mascarenhas

Anuradha Mascarenhas is a Senior Editor at The Indian Express, based in Pune. With a career spanning three decades, she is one of the most respected voices in Indian journalism regarding healthcare, science and environment and research developments. She also takes a keen interest in covering women's issues . Professional Background Education: A gold medalist in Communication and Journalism from Savitribai Phule Pune University and a Master’s degree in Literature. Author: She authored the biography At The Wheel Of Research, which chronicles the life and work of Dr. Soumya Swaminathan, the former Chief Scientist at the WHO. Key Focus: She combines scientific accuracy with storytelling, translating complex medical research into compelling public and human-interest narratives. Awards and Recognition Anuradha has won several awards including the Press Council of India's national award for excellence in journalism under the gender based reporting category in 2019 and the Laadli Media award (gender sensitivity -2024). A recipient of the Lokmat journalism award (gender category-2022), she was also shortlisted for the RedInk awards for excellence in journalism-2021. Her debut book At The Wheel Of Research, an exclusive biography of Dr Soumya Swaminathan the inaugural chief scientist of World Health Organisation was also nominated in the Popular Choice Category of JK Paper AUTHER awards. She has also secured competitive fellowships including the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022), the Survivors Against TB – New Research in TB Media Fellowship (2023) and is part of the prestigious 2025 India Cohort of the WomenLift Health Leadership Journey.” Recent Notable Articles (Late 2025) 1. Cancer & Specialized Medical Care "Tata Memorial finds way to kill drug-resistant cancer cells" (Nov 26, 2025): Reporting on a breakthrough for triple-negative breast cancer, one of the most aggressive forms of the disease. Discipline, diet and purpose; How a 97-year-old professor defies ageing'' (Nov 15, 2025) Report about Prof Gururaj Mutalik, the first Head of Department at Pune's B J Government Medical College who at 97 credits his longevity to healthy habits and a strong sense of purpose. 2. Environmental Health (The "Breathless Pune" Series) Long-term exposure even to 'moderate' air leads to chronic heart, lung, kidney issues" (Nov 26, 2025): Part of an investigative series highlighting that even "safe" pollution levels are damaging to vital organs. "For every 10 µg/m3 increase in PM2.5 level, there was 6-8% jump in medicine sales" (Nov 23, 2025): Using commercial data to prove the direct link between air quality and respiratory illnesses in Pune. 3. Lifestyle & Wellness News "They didn't let cancer, diabetes and heart disease stop them from travelling" (Dec 22, 2025): A collaborative piece featuring survivors who share practical tips for traveling with chronic conditions. At 17, his BP shot up to 200/120 mmHG; Lancet study flags why child and teen hypertension doubled between 2000 and 2020'' (Nov 12,2025)--A report that focusses on 17-year-old-boy's hypertensive crisis and reflects the rising global trend of high blood pressure among children and adolescents. 4. Scientific Recognition & Infrastructure For promoting sci-comm, gender diversity: IUCAA woman prof highlighted in Nature" (Nov 25, 2025): Covering the global recognition of Indian women scientists in gender studies and physics. Pune researchers find a spiral galaxy like the Milky Way from early universe'' (December 3, 2025)- A report on how Indian researchers discovered a massive galaxy that existed when the universe was just 1.5 billion years old , one of the earliest to have been observed so far. Signature Beat: Health, Science & Women in Leadership Anuradha is known for her COVID-19 reportage, where she was one of the first journalists to provide detailed insights into the Covishield and Covaxin trials. She has a dedicated interest in gender diversity in health and science, often profiling women researchers who are breaking the "leaky pipeline" in STEM fields. Her writing style is scrupulous, often featuring interviews with top-tier scientists and health experts from various institutions. ... Read More

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