Haryana Constitutes New Appropriate Authority Under PCPNDT Act

The Haryana Government, Health Department, issued a significant notification on March 21, 2025, formally constituting a new Appropriate Authority for the entire State of Haryana. This action was taken in exercise of the powers conferred under sub-section (2) of section 17 of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (Central Act 57 of 1994). The notification, identified as No. 47/27/2018-4HBII, supersedes a previous notification from the Haryana Government, Health Department, bearing the same number but dated July 5, 2021. The newly appointed authority came into force with immediate effect upon the publication of this notification in the official gazette.

The reconstituted Appropriate Authority is composed of three key officials. The Director General Health Services, Haryana, has been designated as the Chairperson of this body. The Additional Legal Remembrancer and Special Secretary to Government, Haryana, Law and Legislative Department, will serve as a Member, alongside the Deputy Director, Women and Child Development Haryana, who also joins as a Member. This composition aims to bring together expertise from health, legal, and social welfare domains to effectively oversee the implementation of the central legislation.

The legislative intent behind the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PCPNDT Act), is to prevent the misuse of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for sex determination leading to female foeticide and to regulate such techniques. The Act prohibits sex selection, before or after conception, and provides for the regulation of pre-natal diagnostic techniques for the purpose of detecting genetic abnormalities or other specified conditions. The establishment of an Appropriate Authority is a crucial enforcement mechanism mandated by the central Act to ensure its provisions are adhered to across the state.

The earlier legal position involved an Appropriate Authority constituted under the same Act, as evidenced by the superseded notification dated July 5, 2021. The current notification addresses the ongoing administrative requirement to maintain a functional and effective oversight body. The legislation provided: “the Governor of Haryana hereby appoints, with immediate effect, an Appropriate Authority, for the whole of the State of Haryana, consisting of the following, namely:-” This appointment underscores the state's commitment to combating gender-biased sex selection. The Appropriate Authority is tasked with monitoring, inspecting, and investigating clinics and facilities offering pre-natal diagnostic services, ensuring compliance with the Act's stringent regulations, and taking necessary legal action against violations. This continuous effort to update and strengthen the enforcement machinery is vital for upholding the policy rationale of promoting gender equality and preventing the unethical use of medical technology.

Keywords: Haryana, PCPNDT Act, Appropriate Authority, Sex Selection, Health Department, Notification, Diagnostic Techniques, 2025, Foeticide Geo Tags: India, Haryana District: Not Applicable