BENGALURU: In an attempt to bring down the high rate of female foeticide in the country, the Supreme Court,-appointed National Inspection and Monitoring Committee, has recently suggested that the licenses of these errant doctors be suspended and charge them under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, when it is framed.
With such an alarming situation, a disturbing case of an attempt to kill a one-month-old baby girl, surfaced before the High Court, with the father (the accused) seeking bail for a third time before the court.
Taking into consideration that the baby is out of any danger and is presently in a healthy condition, the High Court granted bail to the father accused of the crime by imposing strict conditions upon him.
"This is the third consecutive bail petition, after the dismissal of two earlier petitions filed by the accused. The first plea for bail was dismissed as the petition was withdrawn and the second petition was dismissed, holding that the prima facie case is coming based on the offence committed by this petitioner and that the accused was not entitled to be released on bail at that stage," the court observed.
The case relates to the alleged administering of poison by the father to his own baby in the house of his in-law. "The court rejected his bail application on grounds that it was premature to disbelieve the contents of the first information report, (fir) lodged by the elder sister of the wife of the accused.
The entire investigation is now complete and the charge sheet is filed, with the accused having fully co-operated with the investigation. It has been submitted that the child is out of danger and is hale and healthy and that the wife and child are wholly dependant upon the petitioner for their livelihood. It has also been submitted that the petitioner does not have any criminal antecedents," the court has said while granting bail.
According to the police, in May, 2015, Shivakumar, alias Shivalinga, who had been to his in-laws’ house in a village in Chennapatna, was accused of administering poison (pesticide used for farming) to his one-month-old girl child. The elder sister of his wife, who noticed the crime complained to the police who arrested him on various charges.
While, the High Court, has granted bail, it has imposed certain conditions that the accused be released on executing a personal bond of Rs. 75,000 with one surety for the like sum to the satisfaction of the concerned court, and that he shall not hold out threats to the prosecution witnesses or lure them in any manner.
Further, he shall not be involved in any criminal activities and that he shall attend court on all the dates of hearing except in unavoidable circumstances.
He shall mark his attendance at the respondent-police station once a month on the very second Sunday, between 9.00 a.m. and 5.00 p.m. without fail till the disposal of the case registered against him, and on any one of the conditions, the prosecution is at liberty to seek cancellation of the bail,” the court has ordered.
