The Rajya Sabha Chairman has referred a Bill, which seeks to ban commercial surrogacy, to the Parliamentary Standing Committee on health and asked it to submit report within three months. Union Health Minister JP Nadda had introduced Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, in the lok Sabha last year.
It proposes complete ban on commercial surrogacy, but altruistic surrogacy will be permitted for needy infertile couple under strict regulation. The bill entitles only Indian citizens to avail surrogacy. Foreigners, NRIs and PIOs are not allowed to seek surrogacy in the country. The proposed legislation also seeks to protect women from exploitation and ensure the rights of the child born through surrogacy.
“Members are informed that the Chairman, Rajya Sabha, in consultation with the Speaker, lok Sabha, has referred the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, as introduced in lok Sabha, to the Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare for examination and report within three months,” a lok Sabha bulletin said.