Wednesday, July 6 2005 16:03 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today (July 6, 2005) issued notice to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Population Commission and two others on a PIL seeking direction to debar those having more than two children from contesting Parliamentary, Assembly and Panchayat elections.

A Division Bench of Chief Justice B C Patel and Justice Sanjay Kishan Kaul asked the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, National Population Commission, Ministry of Home Affairs and Registrar General and Census Commissioner to file their replies to the petition within four weeks and fixed October 4 for further hearing.

Petitioner Ravi Prakash Gupta also sought a direction to the Government not to extend any State benefits in jobs and other fields to those violating the two-child norm.

The Court also issued notice to the Ministry of Information and Technology on Gupta's plea for issuance of National Identity Card (Smart Card) to all Indian citizens.