Just 79 cases under PCPNDT Act in state since 2002

The Health Department in Karnataka has registered just 79 cases under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, in the past 15 years. The cases include female foeticide and unregistered sonography centres.

The conviction rate is even lower as the enquiry is still going on in several cases while the charges have been dropped in others for lack of evidence.

In 2015-16, there were just 898 female live births for every 1,000 male live births in Karnataka, down from 917 female live births for every 1,000 male live births in 2014-2015.

K S Vimala, the vice-president of Akhila Karnataka Janavadi Mahila Sanghatane, said the female sex ratio in districts like Udupi and Dakshina Kannada had come down drastically.

An official in the department said on the condition of anonymity that it was very difficult for a doctor to file a case against another doctor. He added that complainants were threatened and there was no protection for them.