Supreme Court Restricts Police Role in Foetal Sex Determination Cases
What Happened
The Supreme Court has ruled that police cannot independently register FIRs or investigate offences under the PCPNDT Act, which prohibits sex selection and foetal sex determination. The court said such cases involve technical and medical issues and must primarily be handled by the designated “Appropriate Authority” under the law, with police playing only a limited supporting role when required.
Key Takeaways
The verdict reinforces that the PCPNDT Act is a specialised law with its own enforcement mechanism, limiting police powers in such cases. However, the court clarified that police can still investigate separate offences under general criminal law if they emerge from the same facts.