Sex determination racket busted in Gurugram; radiologist arrested during sting operation

A significant crackdown on illegal prenatal sex determination services recently unfolded in Gurugram, India, leading to the arrest of a radiologist, Dr. Pawan Kumar, from Aayu Hospital on Khandsa Road. This operation, orchestrated by the Civil Surgeon and the District Appropriate Authority (DAA), utilized a decoy customer in a meticulously planned sting operation. The bust highlights the persistent challenge of covert practices designed to circumvent India's stringent laws against sex determination, particularly the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994. Authorities had received specific intelligence regarding illicit procedures, underscoring the ongoing vigilance required to combat such rackets. This incident is more than just a local law enforcement success; it's a stark reminder of India's protracted struggle against female feticide and the deeply entrenched societal preference for male offspring. Despite decades of legal prohibitions and public awareness campaigns, the economic and cultural pressures, such as dowry systems and inheritance norms, continue to fuel these clandestine operations. The continued existence of such rackets, even in a metropolitan hub like Gurugram, demonstrates the complex interplay between modern development and traditional biases, significantly impacting the nation's child sex ratio and perpetuating gender inequality. Addressing this systemic issue requires not only robust legal enforcement but also sustained socio-cultural shifts.