Once an offender, caught again in Pune

A doctor, against whom a case of illegal sex-selective tests is pending in court, was found practising in Satara.

The National inspection and monitoring committee (NIMC), which visited Satara on Wednesday, has ordered the authorities to register a fresh case and make the then civil surgeon, Dr Vilas Yadav, a co-accused in the case.

The civil surgeon is the appropriate authority who is responsible for taking action in case of violation of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Tests (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, at the district level.

Patil, an MD in radiology, has earlier been booked for sex determination in Satara as well as in Pune. He was accused of violating PCPNDT norms in 2006 and his sonography machine was sealed.

Despite this he was found practising in Satara. The NIMC raided his X-ray and colour doppler centre in Sadar Bazaar area of the town.

The team set a trap, sending a decoy client, who was charged Rs400 for the ultrasound test. The team has collected all proof and will submit a report to the state government.

"His machine had been sealed in 2006. The question is how did he get back the machine and licence? What was the (then) civil surgeon doing when the machine was released and licence was reissued? We, therefore, consider him the co-accused. The state appropriate authority is to be blamed," said the NIMC member.
The member added, "If people who should be booked as co-accused get promotions, instead of punishment, why wouldn't the business of illegal sex selection flourish?"