A scanning centre at Mandharakuppam near Neyveli was sealed by a team of officials under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act (PCPNDT Act), 1994, following repeated complaints to the State and Central governments about the centre’s violation of the Act.
A team from the Department of Medical and Rural Health Services led by joint director of Cuddalore district R Krishnamurthy, joint director of Perambalur district T A S Kumar, PCPNDT Act joint director A Govindharajan, Superintendent from Directorate - Chennai Kamalakannan and Neyveli police DSP R Kalairajan held inspection at the hospital from 11 am to 2 pm on Friday as per the instruction from the Collector R Kirlosh Kumar.
The team reportedly found that the scanning centre had been engaged in sex determination tests.
Sources said, “Child sex ratio of Cuddalore is 895 females for every 1,000 males, which is alarming when compared to the State child sex ratio of 946 per 1,000 male children”. Reports have been coming that some scanning centres in the district were carrying out the tests which will adversely bring down the ratio further. The State and Central governments received repeated complaints.
Despite a warning issued to it in February, it continued to do that. So, we held an inspection and sealed it. Source added that they had blacklisted five other scanning centers in Cuddalore for violating the PCPNDT Act.
“If they do not stop their illegal acts, we will take action against them. Scanning centers should maintain their records properly”, the officials warned.