Supreme Court Says Police Must Not Investigate Sex‑Selection Offences
· India · Times of India, The Hindu, BBC News
Supreme Court ruled that police cannot investigate offences under the Pre‑conception and Pre‑natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PCPNDT Act). Bench of Justice Sanjay Karol and Justice NK Singh held that authorities specifically designated under the Act must lead investigations, and police can only act in a limited supplementary capacity when requested by the Appropriate Authority. The court echoed the Allahabad High Court view that police cannot independently register FIRs for PCPNDT violations. The ruling highlights that the PCPNDT Act involves technical medical matters beyond the typical purview of police investigators. It applies across all states, including the case‑filing state of Uttar Pradesh.
Why it matters
The decision shifts the enforcement burden from police to health authorities, potentially altering how sex‑selection violations are prosecuted and monitored. It may change the procedural dynamics for doctors, parents, and state agencies involved in enforcing gender‑balancing laws.
Read the original report — Times of India
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