Decide on sex selective surgeries on children: Delhi HC to govt

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court asked the city government to make a decision on the recommendations by the Delhi Commission for Protection of Child Rights (DCPCR) on a petition that sought to ban unnecessary sex-selective surgeries on intersex infants and children. The plea had sought to only allow the practice in cases of life-threatening situations, IANS reported.

The petition, public interest litigation (PIL), was filed by an NGO named Srishti Madurai Educational Research Foundation, which also sought directions to make a detailed policy and guidelines specifying the conditions when a medical surgery on intersex infants and children can be performed.

According to advocate Robin Raju's submission, representing the petitioner, DCPCR has given a detailed report to the Delhi government on the issue.

The recommendations advise the respective departments to include people who are intersex or from a similar marginalised background to be a formal members of the Committee. Such a step would ensure that the community is adequately represented and their voices heard in the decision-making process.

However, the government's counsel demanded before the court for eight weeks time to take a decision on the recommendations made by the DCPCR. The court disposed of the plea saying, "In light of the aforesaid, no further orders are required to be passed in the instant petition."