The Health Ministry will look into complaints on advertisements that promote sex selection on the Internet.
A delegation led by social activists Brinda Karat and Sabu George has submitted a memorandum specifically naming Google.
“One of the most glaring examples are those on Internet, specifically Google. This has been repeatedly brought to your attention and also raised in Parliament. But the Ministry has inexplicably chosen not to take any steps,” the memorandum said.
It added that the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PNDT) Act forbids all form of advertisements and came into force in January 1995, long before Google company was created.
The Health Secretary, at a meeting this week, assured the delegation of stricter monitoring mechanisms for the implementation of the Act as the child sex ratio had dipped alarmingly in some States, said a release from the All India Democratic Women's Association (AIDWA).
AIDWA's leader Karat urged the Ministry to file a fresh affidavit in the Supreme Court “firmly stating your opposition to these advertisements in the PIL filed by one of us in 2008 (341/2008). Both in Europe and America the countries have always held internet companies like Google to respect their domestic laws by penalising with fines of hundreds of millions of dollars. Regrettably in India, Internet companies get away with displaying contempt for Indian laws like PNDT,” the memorandum said.
No inspections, say activists
The delegation also pointed out that there had been no inspections over the past five months by the central team designated for this purpose and expressed concern over the lack of follow-up even where cases have been filed against erring doctors, as in Kushinagar, Uttar Pradesh.
“The Health Secretary engaged in a productive discussion on the issues raised, and assured the delegation that they would be looked into with seriousness,” the release added.