No bail for doctor held in sex determination racket

Mumbai: The Bombay high court recently rejected the anticipatory bail application of a doctor who was allegedly involved in a sex determination racket. While rejecting his application, the court raised concerns over the declining sex ratio in the state and said that a lenient view should not be taken while deciding such matters.

Justice T.V. Nalawade was hearing the anticipatory bail application of Dr Somashekhar Hattarki who allegedly involved in a sex determination racket. Dr. Hattarki was running a hospital in Pandharpur, a town in Solapur district located on the border of Maharashtra and Karnataka, where he allegedly conducted illegal sex determination tests and aborted foetuses.

According to the prosecution, on receiving a tip, cops had raided the hospital and found a woman lying unconscious on the bed while the doctor and his associates was seen around the bed. The doctor escaped from the spot and police recovered sex determination equipment from the room.

Justice Nalawade, while rejecting his ABA said, “Considering the object behind the enactments of law regarding abortion and sex determination, this court holds that a lenient view cannot be taken and discretion cannot be used in favour of such person,” the high court said. He also observed, “In Maharashtra, the ratio of the female child has come down to 800. The state is ensuring a strict compliance to the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act. Even doctors have been jailed.

“It is clear that due to this circumstance, now persons are going outside Maharashtra and the present incident is one of such incidents,” he said.