​Bill to ban commercial surrogacy introduced in Lok Sabha

Amid an Opposition uproar demanding a discussion on demonetisation, the government on Monday introduced two Bills in the Lok Sabha on Monday -- on banning commercial surrogacy, and to consolidate existing laws relating to admiralty jurisdiction of courts with regard to maritime cases.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016, introduced by Health Minister J P Nadda, seeks to protect poor women from exploitation and ensure the rights of the child born through surrogacy.

It also bars married couples who have biological or adopted children, gays, live-in partners and single people from opting for surrogacy.

Also, the Bill entitles only Indian citizens to avail themselves of surrogacy and specifies that a woman can be a surrogate only once in her lifetime.

The Bill comes in the backdrop of India becoming a hub for surrogacy, targeting poor women with no guidelines for protecting their health and safety and leaving them open to exploitation by middlemen.

Bill on settling maritime claims

The Admiralty (Jurisdiction and Settlement of Maritime Claims) Bill, 2016, introduced by Minister of State for Shipping, Mansukh L Mandaviya, aims to “consolidate existing laws relating to admiralty jurisdiction of courts, arrest of vessels and other issues, besides repealing four archaic statutes''.

Admiralty jurisdiction relates to powers of the high courts in respect of claims associated with transport by sea and navigable waterways.

The government had earlier said the Bill would fulfil a long-standing demand of the maritime legal fraternity.

The legislation confers admiralty jurisdiction on high courts located in coastal States and this jurisdiction extends up to territorial waters.

The Bill covers every vessel irrespective of the place of residence of domicile of owner. However, warships and naval auxiliary or other vessels used for non-commercial purposes are not under its purview.

COMMENT NOW