Doc gets 3-yr RI for gender test
SATARA: In an unprecedented ruling in the state, a Karad-based medical practitioner was sentenced to three years rigorous imprisonment and was fined Rs 90,000 for conducting a sex determination test.
Criminal Judge R M Kapate on Monday convicted Dr Prabhakar Pawar, who was found guilty of conducting the gender test at his Jeevanjyoti Hospital in Karad in September, 2005.
Social activist and lawyer Varsha Deshpande said that this was for the first time in the state and second time in the country a person was sentenced for conducting gender determination test.
Five years ago, Deshpande had conducted a sting operation to expose Pawars involvement in sex determination tests.
She had sent a pregnant woman to Pawars hospital to conduct the gender test.
The woman later stated that the medical practitioner had conducted the sex determination test on payment of Rs 2,500.
Later, the then district surgeon Dr V B Yadav had confiscated sonography and other machines from the hospital and also recorded statements of witnesses.
A case against Pawar was registered under the provisions of the Preconception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques Act (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994.
The prosecution was represented by Rajesh Madke and Arun Warunjikar.
Deshpande hopes that the verdict will help to curb sex determination test and female foeticide.