Supreme Court: Declining Population Growth Hard to Reverse, Laws Penalising More Than Two Children Irrelevant
· India · The Hindu, Times of India
The Supreme Court stated that the decelerating population growth is very difficult to reverse, emphasising the need to prevent an irreversible decline in fertility. A bench of Justices P.S. Narasimha and Alok Aradhe observed that laws penalising citizens for having more than two children have lost their relevance due to demographic changes over recent decades. The court highlighted the importance of legal evolution to align with contemporary social realities, rather than solely relying on past circumstances. This observation came during a verdict on a plea by Mangala Bhimrao Ingle, whose election as sarpanch was set aside for violating the Maharashtra Village Panchayats Act, 1959, due to having more than two children.
Why it matters
This ruling by the Supreme Court could lead to a re-evaluation of existing population control laws in various states, potentially impacting individuals who have been penalised under such legislation. It also signals a shift in judicial perspective on India's demographic challenges, moving from concerns of overpopulation to potential fertility decline.
Read the original report — The Hindu
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