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Spl Training Prog on J&K Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Sex Selection/Determination (Prohibition & Regulation) Act organised

KT NEWS SERVICE. Dated: 2/19/2018 1:25:29 PM

JAMMU, Feb 18: J&K State Judicial Academy today organized day-long Special Training Programme on “The Jammu & Kashmir Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Sex Selection/Determination (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 2002” at J&K State Judicial Academy, Janipur here.
The training programme was inaugurated by Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir alongwith Justice Alok Aradhe, Chairman, J&K State Judicial Academy and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Member, J&K State Judicial Academy. All the Chief Judicial Magistrates and Sub-Judges of Jammu Province participated in the programme.
Proceedings were conducted by Mr. Abdul Rashid Malik, Director, J&K State Judicial Academy. In his introductory remarks, Director, State Judicial Academy extended warm welcome to Justice Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, Judge, High Court of J&K, Justice Alok Aradhe, Chairman, J&K State Judicial Academy and Justice Janak Raj Kotwal, Member J&K State Judicial Academy for gracing the occasion. While introducing the subject of the Special Orientation Programme, Mr. Malik emphasised that gender bias and deep-rooted prejudice and discrimination against the girl and preference of the male child have led to the misuse of technology for gender biased sex selection leading to demographic imbalance in the last two decades. The declining child sex ratio in India is a major concern for all. The Census data indicate that the female ratio has been declining at an alarming rate and would led to serious socio-cultural problem including population imbalances.
Justice Alok Aradhe, Chairman, J&K State Judicial Academy in his special address said that female foeticide has its roots in the social thinking which is fundamentally based on certain erroneous notions, egocentric traditions, perverted perception of societal norms and obsession with ideas which are totally individualistic. All involved in female foeticide deliberately forget to realize that when the foetus of a girl child is destroyed, a woman of the future is crucified. To put it differently, the present generation invites the sufferings on its own and also sows the seeds of suffering for the future generation, as in the ultimate eventuate, the sex ratio gets affected and leads to manifold social problems. He added that no awareness campaign can ever be complete unless there is real focus on the women empowerment.
Justice, Mohammad Yaqoob Mir, Judge, High Court of J&K, in his inaugural address gave an overview of the special training programme and said that society should give preference to a male child over a girl child is a matter of grave concern. Such tendency offends dignity of women. It undermines their importance. It violates woman's right to life. It violates Article 39(e) of the Constitution which states the principle of state policy that the health and strength of women is not to be abused. It ignores Article 51A(e) of the Constitution which states that it shall be the duty of every citizen of India to renounce practices derogatory to the dignity of women. Sex selection is therefore against the spirit of the Constitution. It insults and humiliates womanhood. This is perhaps the greatest argument in favour of total ban on sex selection. He emphasised that the Government, the Non-Government Organisations including Legal Service Authorities are required to create awareness which is really effective to enlighten the people about the Constitutional concepts, culture, philosophy, religion, scriptural commands and object behind the Act.
Resource Person Ms. Anuja Gulati, State Programme Coordinator, United Nations Population Fund (UNFP), Maharashtra deliberated upon the Background of The Jammu & Kashmir Pre-Conception & Pre-Natal Sex Selection/Determination (Prohibition & Regulation) Act, 2002, Role & Functions of Authorities under the Act with special reference to Role of Judiciary, Trial Process, Enforcement Challenges, and Feedback & Interaction with Participant Judges. While interacting with the participant Judges Ms. Anuja Gulati highlighted that the consequences of declining sex ratio are serious, all pervading and far reaching. Lesser number of girls in society has resulted in increased violence against women and denial of basic rights to them. It has also led to increase in sex related crimes (rape, abduction, forced polyandry). Sex selection, further, impacts health, especially reproductive health of women who are forced to go in for repeated pregnancies followed by abortions in the desire to have a male child. Ironically the major reason for declining sex ratio is the proliferation of modern technology and easy and affordable access to such technology with its rapidly expanding use for the purpose of pre and post conception sex selection followed by elimination of foetus, if found to be of female. Taking cognizance of this issue, J&K State responded to the imperative need of the hour by passing THE JAMMU & KASHMIR PRE-CONCEPTION & PRE-NATAL SEX SELECTION/ DETERMINATION (PROHIBITION & REGULATION) ACT, 2002 to stop this practice and misuse of technology for prenatal sex determination prohibiting the use of new scientific techniques for sex determination and sex selection treating it as totally insulting to the dignity of womanhood and against the spirit of Constitution in which the right to equality is embedded.
The function concluded with the vote of thanks by Abdul Rashid Malik, Director, J&K State Judicial Academy who informed the participants that the deliberation of the Programme will be documented and sent to the Appropriate Authorities under the Act so as to ensure implementation of the Act and the Rules in letter and spirit. Lastly he referred to the Swami Vivekananda who had said: “Just as a bird could not fly with one wing only, a nation would not march forward if the women are left behind."