Date:26/01/2008 URL: http://www.thehindu.com/2008/01/26/stories/2008012651960600.htm

National

Haryana convicts five for sex determination tests

Special Correspondent

CHANDIGARH: Haryana has so far recorded five convictions for sex determination under the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act and this number is the highest for any State in the country, Health Minister Kartar Devi said here on Friday while presiding over a meeting of the State Supervisory Board.

She disclosed that the District Court in Bhiwani had on January 21 convicted and sentenced Dr. Sushil Pradhan and Dr. Sarita Pradhan to imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs. 2,000 each.

The first conviction which was recorded in the State was of Dr. Anil Sabhani and Kartar Singh, technician of Palwal, who were sentenced to imprisonment for two years and pay a fine of Rs.5,000 each. In the second case, S. N. Dhanwantri of Rohtak was sentenced to imprisonment for one year and a fine of Rs.5,000. The third case was of Dr. M. P. Kamboj and Dr. Renu Kamboj in Hisar district where the court ordered them to undergo imprisonment for three years and pay a fine of Rs. 10,000 each. The fourth such conviction was of Dr. Rajender Malik of Hisar district who was sentenced to imprisonment for two years and a fine of Rs. 5,000. The Minister said that the people should be motivated to celebrate the birth of a daughter like they celebrate the birth of a son in a family.