NEW DELHI: Lok Sabha on Monday passed a bill which seeks to ban commercial surrogacy by a voice vote.
The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2019 provides for prevention of misuse of surrogacy in the country and ensuring the happiness of childless couples. The Lok Sabha passed the bill by voice vote by repealing the amendments of the Opposition.
Responding to the debate on the bill, Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said the ban commercial surrogacy was "the need of the hour". He further said that several countries have banned commercial surrogacy. It is only legal in the state of California besides Russia and Ukraine. He also assured the members that once the rules and regulations of the proposed law are put in place, it would make the legislation stronger.
During the discussion on the Bill, BJP MP Rita Bahuguna Joshi said that surrogacy has become an industry in the country and the bill will prevent exploitation of women. YSR Congress MP VV Satyawati said that the bill does not define close relatives.
The provisions of the Bill are:
A child seeking woman must be between 23 to 50 years of age and the age of male should between 26 and 55 years of age. The couple must have at least five years of marriage and must be a citizen of India for surrogacy. The woman who will be made a surrogate mother must be a Indian and close relative of couple. The surrogate mother must be 25 to 35 years of age. Provision for prevention of exploitation of surrogate mothers and fixing rights of surrogate children. 10 years imprisonment and a maximum fine of Rs 10 lakh for sale of human embryos for surrogacy. It is mandatory for surrogacy service clinic to register itself.
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