Kerala High Court
Sajeev K vs The Union Of India on 31 March, 2023
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE SHAJI P.CHALY
FRIDAY, THE 31ST DAY OF MARCH 2023 / 10TH CHAITHRA, 1945
WP(C) NO. 11515 OF 2023
PETITIONER/S:
1 SAJEEV K
AGED 52 YEARS
S/O. KUNJU KUNJU, KOCHILATH (H), VYDIARANGADI (P.O),
MALAPPURAM DISTRICT., PIN - 673633
2 PRASANNA SAJEEV
AGED 50 YEARS
W/O. SAJEEV, KOCHILATH (H), VYDIARANGADI (P.O),
MALAPPURAM DISTRICT., PIN - 673633
BY ADV K.DILIP
RESPONDENT/S:
1 THE UNION OF INDIA
REP. BY IT'S SECRETARY, MINISTRY OF HEALTH & FAMILY
WELFARE, SASTHRI BHAVAN, NEW DELHI, PIN - 110001
2 THE STATE OF KERALA
REP. BY IT'S SECRETARY TO GOVERNMENT, MINISTRY OF
HEALTH & FAMILY WELFARE, GOVERNMENT SECRETARIAT,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM., PIN - 695001
3 THE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY FORMED U/S 12 OF THE ART®
ACT, 2021, REP. BY IT'S VICE CHAIRPERSON DR.PREETHI,
ADDITIONAL DIRECTOR OF HEALTH SERVICES (FW), PALAYAM -
AIRPORT ROAD, NEAR GENERAL HOSPITAL ROAD JUNCTION,
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, PIN - 695035
4 THE DISTRICT REPRODUCTIVE & CHILD HEALTH (RCH) OFFICER
DISTRICT MEDICAL OFFICE, PARK AVENUE, MARINE DRIVE,
ERNAKULAM, PIN - 682011
5 SABINE HOSPITAL AND RESEARCH CENTRE PVT LTD.
REP. BY IT'S DIRECTOR, PEZHAKKAPPILLY (P.O),
MUVATTUPUZHA., PIN - 686673
R1 BY SRI. S.MANU, DSGI
R2 & R4 BY SMT. DEEPA NARAYANAN, SR.GP
THIS WRIT PETITION (CIVIL) HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON
31.03.2023, THE COURT ON THE SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:
WP(C) NO. 11515 OF 2023
-2-
JUDGMENT
This writ petition is filed in respect of a challenge made to
Section 21(g) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation)
Act, 2021 (for short 'the Act, 2021'). The case of the petitioners in the
writ petition is that, though they are living as husband and wife, they
are suffering from infertility issues and therefore, their only
alternative is to seek refuge for Assisted Reproductive Technology by
undergoing treatment. In so far as Section 21(g) of the Act, 2021 is
concerned, it prescribes an age limit to undergo the treatment for a
woman aged above 50 years and a man aged above 55 years. The
petitioners' case is that, either of them have exceeded the prescribed
age limit. The validity of the above provision was considered by a
learned Single Judge of this Court in Nandini K. v. The Union of
India and Others [2023 (1) KLT 426] and has rendered a
judgment dated 19.12.2022, and disposed of the writ petitions holding
as follows:-
"14. As rightly pointed out by the amicus curiae,
Section 5 of the Act confers the National Assisted
Reproductive Technology and Surrogacy Board
WP(C) NO. 11515 OF 2023
with the power to advice the Central Government
on policy matters relating to assisted reproductive
technology. In my opinion, the impact of the
prescription of upper age limit on the liberty of
individuals is a matter which the National Board
should bring to the notice of the Central
Government, so as to effectuate a detailed
discussion on the subject and pave the way for
necessary amendments.
Based on the above discussions, the following
directions are issued;
(i) Those among the petitioners who were
undergoing ART services as on 25.01.2022 shall
be permitted to continue their treatment.
(ii) The National Board shall alert the Central
Government about the need for having a re-look at
the upper age limit prescribed in Section 21(g) of
the Act.
(iii) The National Board shall also bring to the
notice of the Central Government the requirement
of including a transitional provision in the ART
Act.
(iv) The above directions shall be complied by the
National Board within three months of receipt of a
copy of this judgment.
WP(C) NO. 11515 OF 2023
(v) Those among the petitioners who are yet to
commence their ART treatment shall await the
decision of the Central Government on the upper
age limit and the transitional provision.
(vi) The liberty of the petitioners to approach this
Court at a later stage, if so necessitate, is
reserved."
2. Therefore, the submission made by the learned Counsel for
the petitioners is that they are undergoing treatment and they may be
permitted to do so, failing which, irreparable loss and mental distress
would be suffered by them.
3. On the other hand, learned Central Government Counsel has
submitted that the issue with respect to the constitutionality of the age
limit fixed under Section 21(g) of the Act, 2021, is under consideration
before the Hon'ble Apex Court and therefore, the writ petition may be
kept pending, till such time a decision is taken by the Apex Court.
4. In my considered opinion, since already similar writ petitions
are disposed of by issuing directions as extracted above, this writ
petition can be disposed of in similar lines, failing which, the
petitioners would be put to serious prejudice. Therefore, petitioners
WP(C) NO. 11515 OF 2023
who are undergoing treatment for Assisted Reproductive Technology
as on 25.01.2022 shall be permitted to continue their treatment. In all
other respects, the directions contained in the above cited judgment
would squarely apply to the facts and figures of this case also.
The writ petition is allowed to the above extent.
Sd/-
SHAJI P.CHALY
JUDGE
uu
31.03.2023
WP(C) NO. 11515 OF 2023
APPENDIX OF WP(C) 11515/2023
PETITIONER EXHIBITS
Exhibit-P1 TRUE COPIES OF MEDICAL REPORTS ISSUED BY
THE SAID HOSPITAL IN FAVOUR OF THE 1ST
PETITIONER DATED 06/08/2013
Exhibit-P2 A TRUE COPY OF THE MEDICAL REPORTS
ISSUED BY THE SAID HOSPITAL IN FAVOUR OF
THE 2ND PETITIONER DATED 27/12/2014
Exhibit-P3 A TRUE COPY OF THE PATIENT REGISTRATION
CARD ISSUED TO THE 2ND PETITIONER HEREIN
BY THE 5TH RESPONDENT HOSPITAL DATED
12/07/2022
Exhibit-P4 A TRUE COPY OF THE DISCHARGE SUMMARY
ISSUED TO THE 2ND PETITIONER BY THE 5TH
RESPONDENT HOSPITAL DATED 13/10/2022
Exhibit-P5 A TRUE COPY OF THE ULTRASOUND SCAN
REPORT PERTAINING TO THE 2ND PETITIONER
DATED 24/12/2022
Exhibit-P6 A TRUE COPY OF THE JUDGMENT IN W.P.(C)
NO. 1477 / 2023 DATED 24/03/2023
