Govt Refers Surrogacy Bill to Select Committee of Rajya Sabha

The bill only allows a close relative to act as a surrogate to couples legally married for at least 5 years.

Violation of fundamental rights of women and seizing their control over their bodies can never be the solution.

(Photo: iStockphoto)

The government on Thursday, 21 November referred the surrogacy bill to a select committee of the Rajya Sabha.

Union health minister Harsh Vardhan moved a resolution in the upper house of Parliament referring the bill to a select committee.

Rajya Sabha members had on Wednesday sought amendments in certain provisions of the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2019, that seeks to ban commercial surrogacy in India.

The bill only allows a close relative to act as a surrogate to couples who have been legally married for at least five years.

A day ago, some of the members also sought provisions for allowances and insurance along with maternity leave for the surrogate mother, besides relaxation in numbers of surrogacy.

The Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2019, was introduced in the Upper House on Tuesday by Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan.

‘Very Complicated Bill,’ Says Congress’ Jairam Ramesh

Participating in the debate, Jairam Ramesh said that it was a “very complicated bill” and the government should get an amended bill passed after considering the suggestions of the members.

P Wilson of the DMK said the bill has provisions for permission for abortion within 90 days, but sometimes there are cases of medical emergency, and surrogate mother cannot wait for such period.

There should be provision of post-approval as well, he said.

The bill seeks to ban commercial surrogacy, provides to set up surrogacy boards at national and state levels, as well as that the intending couples should not abandon such a child under any condition.

Only Indian couples who have been legally married for at least five years would be allowed to opt for surrogacy, as per the Statement of Objects and Reasons of the bill.

The bill seeks to “allow ethical altruistic surrogacy to the intending infertile Indian married couple between the age of 23-50 years and 26-55 years for female and male, respectively.”