Section 23: Offences and penalties

Q: What does Section 23 of The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PCPNDT) deal with?

Section 23 PCPNDT pertains to "Offences and penalties". It is part of the The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, a legislation enacted by the Parliament of India. Section 23 of The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PCPNDT) governs offences and penalties. As verified on 19 May 2026.

Q: Is Section 23 PCPNDT still in force?

Yes, Section 23 of the The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 is currently in force across the Republic of India.

Q: What is धारा 23 PCPNDT?

धारा 23 PCPNDT is the Devanagari Hindi reference for Section 23 of the The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994. Section 23 of The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PCPNDT) governs offences and penalties. As verified on 19 May 2026.

Q: What is Dhara 23 PCPNDT?

Dhara 23 PCPNDT is the Roman Hindi reference for Section 23 of the The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994. "Dhara" means "Section" in Hindi. Section 23 of The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PCPNDT) governs offences and penalties. As verified on 19 May 2026.

Q: How to cite Section 23 of The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994?

Cite as: "Section 23, The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994 (PCPNDT)" in legal briefs. For academic writing, use the BlueBook format: The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act, 1994, § 23 (India).

Law on Tips Editorial Board

(1)

Any medical geneticist, gynaecologist, registered medical practitioner or any person who owns a Genetic Counselling Centre, a Genetic Laboratory or a Genetic Clinic or is employed in such a Centre, Laboratory or Clinic and renders his professional or technical services to or at such a Centre, Laboratory or Clinic, whether on an honorary basis or otherwise, and who contravenes any of the provisions of this Act or rules made thereunder shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend to ten thousand rupees and on any subsequent conviction, with imprisonment which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees.

(2)

The name of the registered medical practitioner shall be reported by the Appropriate Authority to the State Medical Council concerned for taking necessary action including suspension of the registration if the charges are framed by the court and till the case is disposed of and on conviction for removal of his name from the register of the Council for a period of five years for the first offence and permanently for the subsequent offence.

(3)

Any person who seeks the aid of any Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory, Genetic Clinic or ultrasound clinic or imaging clinic or of a medical geneticist, gynaecologist, sonologist or imaging specialist or registered medical practitioner or any other person for sex selection or for conducting pre-natal diagnostic techniques on any pregnant woman for the purposes other than those specified in sub-section (2) of section 4, he shall be punishable with imprisonment for a term which may extend to three years and with fine which may extend to fifty thousand rupees for the first offence and for any subsequent offence with imprisonment which may extend to five years and with fine which may extend to one lakh rupees.

(4)

For the removal of doubts, it is hereby provided, that the provisions of sub-section (3) shall not apply to the woman who was compelled to undergo such diagnostic techniques or such selection.