- (1.) On 15.04.2015, after recording the submissions of Mr. Gonsalves, learned senior Counsel appearing for the Petitioner, we had issued certain directions in respect of the State of NCT of Delhi and, at that juncture, we had observed that though the said directions had been issued in respect of the State of NCT of Delhi, some of the directions are also applicable to other States and the said facet shall be adverted to on the next date of hearing. Apart from the directions issued issued, this Court directed as follows: "At this juncture, Mr. Gonsalves, learned senior Counsel submitted that reduction in sex-ratio in this country is quite disturbing and agonizing. Learned senior counsel would submit that the honour killing is also reflective of the attitude of the society at large, for the proclivity to scuttle the female from being born and to see the mother earth and the sunlight. It is his submission that though this Court has been passing series of orders, yet there is no awareness and fear in the society. He has drawn our attention to an order passed on 29.10.2002 in People Unions for Civil Liberties v. Union of India and Ors., Writ Petition Civil No. 196 of 2001, wherein this Court had directed the Chief Secretaries of the States to translate the order and display the same on the Gram Panchayats, school buildings and fair price shops and giving wide publicity on the All India Radio and Doordarshan. Learned senior Counsel would submit that there need be no display on the Gram Panchayats, school buildings or fair price shops but it should be given wide publicity in Newspapers, All India Radio and Doordarshan. Regard being had to the said submission, we direct that the order passed today should be translated and be given wide publicity in Newspapers, All India Radio and Doordarshan so that the people at large know the sacrosanctity of the 1994 Act, the issues raised before this Court and the manner in which the same being addressed to and how there should be real concern not to go for sex selection, or destruction of female foetus subject to law, that is, the provisions of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act."
(2.) It is submitted by Mr. Wasim Qadri that he will file an affidavit clearly indicating all the steps that have been taken by the NCT of Delhi in regard to compliance of the directions contained at serial No. (i) to (viii) in the previous order. The affidavit shall be absolutely specific. As far as the directions which we have reproduced hereinabove are concerned, Mr. Qadri could not tell us what steps have been taken. He could not apprise us whether any publicity has been given in newspapers, All India Radio and Doordarshan so that the people at large know the sacrosanctity of the 1994 Act and the issues raised before this Court and the matter in which the same being addressed to and how there should be real concern not to go for sex selection or destruction of female feticide subject to law, i.e., the provision of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. Needless to say, the said directions are to be complied with by all the States in India.
(3.) Ms. Binu Tamta, learned Counsel appearing for the Union of India, submitted that she will see to it that appropriate directions are issued to the authorities of All India Radio and Doordarshan functioning in various States to give wide publicity. As all the States are represented before us, the learned Counsel appearing for them shall send a copy of the order to the Principal Secretary, Health as well as to the Principal Secretary, Law so that the said order can be translated and be published in the newspapers and broadcast on All India Radio and telecast on Doordarshan in appropriate manner.;