ORDER : On the previous occasion, i.e., 13.01.2015, we have dealt with the State of Uttar Pradesh and issued certain directions. Today, we intend to deal with the situation prevalent in the State of Haryana. 2. Mr. Gonsalves, learned senior counsel appearing for the petitioner has submitted that the State of Haryana had produced the data before the Screening Committee as directed by this Court and the Committee has found the data furnished by the State to be correct but that does not really solve the problem. 3. Learned senior counsel would submit that the sex ratio in the State of Haryana has been constantly decreasing. The same is demonstrable from the chart given in the affidavit filed by the Additional Chief Secretary to Government of Haryana, Health Department. The worsening of sex ratio is a disturbing and a distressing problem as the same is likely to affect, in the ultimate eventuate, the human race as well as the civilisation in entirety. It is urged by Mr. Gonsalves that despite the PC & PNDT Act and the Rules and Regulations framed thereunder for preventing the sex selection, yet maladroit endeavours which have been ingeniously designed are taking place for sex determination which eventually leads to the female foeticide. Apart from this, there is also sex selection by which a married couple are anxious to find out about the sex of the fetus. 4. Learned counsel would urge that the launching of prosecution under the Act in the State of Haryana, as the factual matrix would depict, is basically an apology, for despite there being 21 districts in the State and the decrese in the sex ratio from year to year, the steps taken for prosecution and other coercive measures, as provided under the Act, are absolutely inadequate. 5. Mr. Dinesh Yadav, learned counsel appearing for the State would contend that presently the State of Haryana has shown serious concern to stop this malady so that the balance in sex ratio is maintained. Learned counsel would contend that the State is galvanising the national programme, namely, 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' and immense emphasis is given in presenti, regard being had to the low sex ratio. 6. At this juncture, we must record the submission of Ms. Anitha Shenoy, learned counsel appearing for Dr.
Learned counsel would contend that the State is galvanising the national programme, namely, 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' and immense emphasis is given in presenti, regard being had to the low sex ratio. 6. At this juncture, we must record the submission of Ms. Anitha Shenoy, learned counsel appearing for Dr. Sabu Mathew George, the intervenor, that there is no proper launching of prosecution and eventually conviction as there is lethargy on the part of the competent authorities under the Act to lodge the prosecution and prosecute them with the requisite vigour as warranted under the Act. She would also submit that there should be registration of dates of births of the children (male and female) at all the levels especially at the level of the local level, namely, Municipal Corporation/Municipality/Gram Panchayat Samiti/Gram Panchayat, as the case may be. 7. We will be failing in our duty, if we do not take note of an assertion which is reflectible from the affidavit filed on behalf of the State of Haryana that the appropriate authorities who are required to lodge the prosecution sometimes face enormous difficult as they do not get proper assistance. 8. Having heard learned counsel for the parties, we issue the following directions : (i) The appropriate authorities under the Act who have been authorised to launch/initiate the prosecution shall be imparted training by the Judicial Academy of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana. During the training, the Director of Prosecution of the State shall remain personally present in the academy so that all the officers avail the training with all sincerity, concern and seriousness. (ii) The trials that are pending before various courts of the State, unless there is an interdiction by the High Court or by this Court, shall proceed with quite promptitude and be finalised within a period of four months commencing 01.02.2015. (iii) The State may think of appointing a panel of competent lawyers who can render proper assistance to the appropriate authorities for taking appropriate steps for every action under the Act so that eventually the action taken under the Act does not collapse due to technical flaws. This direction is given to have separate lawyers for prosecuting these causes as it requires a lot of technical knowledge and it is the obligation of the State to see that this kind of maladies are eradicated.
This direction is given to have separate lawyers for prosecuting these causes as it requires a lot of technical knowledge and it is the obligation of the State to see that this kind of maladies are eradicated. Unless eradicated in time, it has the potentiality to lead to a disorderly state of affairs. The State shall respond to the same by the next date. (iv) The Districts where the sex ratio is less, the Director of Prosecution and the Director of the Judicial Academy shall give adequate stress on their training so that authorities who are in-charge of the said districts shall also rise to the occasion. (v) As has been stated in our earlier judgment, i.e., Voluntary Health Association of Punjab v. Union of India & Ors. [ (2013) 4 SCC 1 ], there has to be proper awareness camps which are to be organised by the State Legal Services Authority. It is required to be done. It shall issue directions to the District Legal Services Authorities through out the State to hold awareness camps with a proper perspective so that the persons attending camps not only become aware of the legal consequences but also the societal and the collective concern for sustenance of child sex ratio. And above all, the value of a life of woman, for she is the basic pillar of the human race in any society. If advised, the Patron-in-Chief of the State Legal Services Authority may constitute a separate cell for imparting such legal aid camps. (vi) We would request the learned Chief Justice of the High Court of Punjab and Haryana to fix a date for imparting training to the appropriate authorities and thereafter the Registrar (Judicial) shall communicate to the Chief Secretary of the State who shall see to it that all the appropriate authorities attend the training failing which they will be liable for disciplinary proceedings. (vii) Mr. Yadav, learned counsel for the State shall file a list of the cases which are pending in trial courts for trial before the Registry of this Court within 10 days hence. The Registry shall forward the same forthwith to the Registrar General of the High Court who, in turn, shall place the matter before the learned Chief Justice who is requested to issue a circular with a command that the cases shall be disposed of within four months.
The Registry shall forward the same forthwith to the Registrar General of the High Court who, in turn, shall place the matter before the learned Chief Justice who is requested to issue a circular with a command that the cases shall be disposed of within four months. Let the matter be listed for consideration of the situation prevalent in the NCT of Delhi on 17.02.2015.