Tamil Nadu Authorities Bust Illegal Fetal Sex Determination Racket

Tamil Nadu health authorities and police have busted a secret racket, arresting six people, including a government doctor and a nurse. The operation on February 26, 2025, involved the Salem and Krishnagiri districts, underlining persistent problems in implementing India's laws against sex-selective measures.

The Sting Operation

Acting on a tip that intermediaries were arranging illegal fetal sex determination, Krishnagiri District Collector S. Dinesh Kumar set up a task force. City Health Officer Dr. G. Ramesh Kumar and Kelamangalam Block Medical Officer Dr. C. Rajesh Kumar, forming part of this team, undertook a surreptitious operation. Two physicians, disguising themselves as a couple looking to use sex determination, approached Rayakottai resident Gautham, aged 34.

Gautham took them to Sagaya Mary, 48, from Tirupathur district. The decoy couple was diverted due to identification problems to Salem district, where they met touts Sangeetha, 38, from Dharmapuri, and Ambika, 45, from Salem. The go-betweens took them to nurse Kalaimani, 48, at the Primary Health Centre in Thedavur. They were later brought to Pasupathy Scan Centre in Veeranam, where they met Dr. Muthamil, 45, a doctor at the Achankuttapatty PHC.

After verifying the illegal procedures, the authorities arrested Dr. Muthamil, nurse Kalaimani, and the four middlemen. An ultrasound scanner for sex determination was also confiscated. Initial investigations showed that Dr. Muthamil demanded ₹15,000 per procedure. All six of them have been sent to judicial custody and are currently lodged in Salem Central Prison.

Legal Framework and Challenges

India's Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PCPNDT Act), forbids sex selection prior to or after conception and controls prenatal diagnostic techniques to avert their misuse for sex determination and subsequent female feticide. In spite of the PCPNDT Act's strict provisions, enforcement is difficult. Offences can attract penalties between ₹10,000 and ₹50,000 and imprisonment for a period of five years. ^[2]

Recurring Problems in Tamil Nadu

This recent crackdown is not the first such case in Tamil Nadu. In August 2024, health officials in Dharmapuri caught two people engaged in a similar illegal sex determination racket. A decoy operation led the police to a house where unlicensed prenatal sex determination tests were being carried out.

The persistence of such illegal practices reflects ingrained cultural biases in favor of male children, which continue to generate demand for sex-selective practices. These practices have resulted in distorted sex ratios in many regions of India, with serious social implications.

Government Response and Public Awareness

Against such challenges, Tamil Nadu authorities have increased surveillance and enforcement activities. The government has also undertaken awareness campaigns to inform the population about the legal and ethical impacts of sex-selective practices. District Collector S. Dinesh Kumar emphasized that those involved in these illegal activities would face serious consequences, affirming the government's commitment to ending these practices.

Although legislation such as the PCPNDT Act is a strong mechanism to combat illegal prenatal sex determination, enforcement and societal change are key. Overcoming the root causes of gender bias and increasing public awareness remain crucial steps toward ending sex-selective practices and achieving gender equality. ^[1]

References

1. National Center for Biotechnology Information (NCBI). Impact of prenatal technologies on the sex ratio in India: an overview. Retrieved from https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC4052431/

2. Directorate of Medical and Rural Health Services - Tamil Nadu. TNCEA Act and PCPNDT Act Regulations. Retrieved from https://tncea.dmrhs.tn.gov.in/pcpndt.php

3. Wikipedia. Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994. Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pre-Conception_and_Pre-Natal_Diagnostic_Techniques_Act%2C_1994

‌(Input from various sources)

(Rehash/Pragati Sakhuja/MSM)