Pune’s first: Radiologist gets 2-year jail term
In a judgment that can add teeth to the state’s drive against female foeticide, a radiologist was sentenced to two years’ jail under Pre Conception Pre Natal Diagnostics Technique Act.
In a judgment that can add teeth to the state’s drive against female foeticide, a radiologist was sentenced to two years’ jail under Pre Conception Pre Natal Diagnostics Technique (PCPNDT) Act.
After a five-year legal battle, the court of judicial magistrate first class Justice V B Bohara in Pune convicted Dr Mohan Kumar Bandopant Nagne, 50, of carrying out sex determination tests and revealing the sex of the foetus.
This is the first case in Pune in which a radiologist has been sent to jail for conducting sex determination tests.
The case was filed on January 16, 2006, when Dr Nagne was a radiologist with Aundh Chest Hospital. He was caught revealing the sex of an unborn foetus to two decoys sent to his private clinic in Thergaon by NGO Janwadi Mahila Sanghatana and Tathapi.
Not only was he a government employee but also a member of Pune District Advisory Committee, appointed to ensure the implementation of the PCPNDT Act.
Dr Nagne was sentenced to two years’ rigorous imprisonment for not maintaining the records at the centre, for not taking a written consent for the test and conducting the sex determination test.Advocates Geeta Kulkarni and Jyoti Sorkhade told the court about the dipping sex ratios in Pune, which indicated increasing rate of female foeticide.
Dr Suresh Gupta, additional director of state family welfare bureau, said departmental action would follow court’s decision.“It will create fear in minds of radiologists indulging in such acts and warn them against such practice,” said Gupta.
Kiran Moghe, president of Janwadi Mahila Sanghatna which did the sting operation, said the judgment will send out a strong signal to doctors indulging in sex selection crimes.