Punjab Government’s attempt to bring the activities of privately-run ultrasound centres across the state under lens by hiring private detectives has proved rewarding. For, an Amritsar-based lady doctor was arrested under Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act.
The detective agency hired by the Department of Health and Family Welfare conducted its “first successful sting operation” on Tuesday in Amritsar, that led to the arrest of a female doctor.
A case was registered after a doctor at Bharat Hospital in Chheharta took a sum of Rs 15,000 from a decoy patient sent by the empanelled detective agency for sex-determination test to rule out girl child in the womb of the decoy lady.
Punjab Health and Family Welfare Minister Surjit Kumar Jyani revealed that this is first of its kind sting operation conducted by the detective agency, which recently has been empanelled by the state government to check the misuse of technology for sex-determination by certain nefarious elements.
Giving details of the case, he said that the woman decoy planted by the agency visited Dr Shupla Sharma of Bharat Hospital on Tuesday and talked to her about already having 2 daughters and her intentions to abort the child, in case the current pregnancy also turns out to be a female foetus. Subsequent to the consent by the doctor, the money was handed over to the hospital.
Meanwhile, under the supervision of Director, Health Services, Dr HS Bali, a team led by Amritsar Civil Surgeon accompanied by the decoy patient was rushed the hospital, which recovered the marked currency notes from the doctor.
A written complaint by the Civil Surgeon, who is the appropriate authority under PC-PNDT Act, regarding the acceptance of money for conducting sex-determination by the lady doctor was given to the local Police and a case under relevant sections of PC-PNDT Act was registered against Dr Shupla Sharma.
“The lady doctor has been arrested and produced in the court today under the non-bailable and non-compoundable charges,” said said while adding that Punjab government is committed for the cause of girl child and has taken numerous steps to improve the skewed sex-ratio in the state.
The state Principal Secretary, Health, Vini Mahajan said that the department has recently hired the professional services of leading detective agency to catch hold of the violators of PC-PNDT Act.
She claimed that the sex-ratio has fairly improved in the past few years owing to the concerted efforts by the department in strict enforcement of PC-PNDT Act and stepping up the awareness regarding the worth of girl child.
“Punjab has already enhanced the award money to the informers under PC-PNDT Act from Rs 20,000 to Rs one lakh.