New Delhi: A Bill to curb female foeticide through stringent measures was passed in Parliament on December 20 with government asserting in Lok Sabha that the measure aimed at bringing about a social change in the country.

The Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Amendment Bill 2002, which had been passed by Rajya Sabha earlier, was approved by a voice vote in the Lower House.

Winding up a brief discussion on the Bill, Minister of State for Health A Raja said the legislation would play a significant role in checking female foeticide.

Participating in the debate, members expressed concern over the dwindling female population in the country and sought measures to check female foeticide.

Some of them including Jagmeet Singh Brar (Congress) and Ranjit Panja (Trinamool) sought more stringent measures against female foeticide, while Renu Kumari (Samata) suggested death penalty for doctors committing such offence.

The Representation of the People (Second Amendment) Bill 2002, relating to local bodies in Bihar, was passed without discussion after Minister of State for Law Ravi Shankar Prasad assured Raghuvansh Prasad Singh of Rashtriya Janata Dal (RJD) that the measure would ensure early polls for legislative council in the state.

PTI