Section 18A(1) in The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Rules, 1996
(1)All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following general code of conduct, namely:-](i)[ maintain dignity, and integrity at all times] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ observe and implement the provisions of the Act and Rules in a balanced and standardised manner in the course of their work] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iii)[ conduct their work in a just manner without any bias or a perceived presumption of guilt] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iv)[ refrain from making any comments which demean individuals on the basis of gender, race, religion] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](v)[ delegate his or her powers by administrative order to any authorised officer in his or her absence and preserve the order of authorisation as documentary proof for further action] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(2) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following Conduct for Advisory Committees, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ ensure that the re-constitution, functions and other relevant matters related to advisory committee shall be in accordance with the provisions of the Advisory Committee Rules, 1996] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ ensure that a person who is the part of investigating machinery in cases under the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (57 of 1994), shall not be nominated or appointed as a member of the Advisory Committee] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iii)[ ensure that the process of filling up of vacancies in Advisory Committee shall start at least ninety days before the probable date of the occurrence of vacancy] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iv)[ ensure that no person shall participate as a member or a legal expert of the Advisory Committee if he or she has conflict of interest] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](v)[ conduct frequent meetings of the Advisory Committee to expedite the decisions regarding renewal, cancellation and suspension of registration] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(3) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following conduct for processing of complaint and investigation, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ maintain appropriate diaries in support of registration of each of the complaint or case under the Act] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ attend to all complaints and maintain transparency in the follow-up action of the complaints] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iii)[ investigate all the complaints within twenty four hours of receipt of the complaint and complete the investigation within forty-eight hours of receipt of such compliant] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iv)[ as far as possible, not involve police for investigating cases under the Act as the cases under the Act are tried as complaint cases under the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973 (2 of 1974)] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(4) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following conduct for registration and renewal of applications under the Act, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ dispose of the application for renewal and new registration within a period of seventy days from the date of receipt of application] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ ensure that no application for fresh registration or renewal of registration is accepted if any case is pending in any court against the applicant for violation of any provision of the act and the rules made thereunder.] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 60 (E) dated 28.1.2015][(5) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following conduct for Legal Action, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ ensure that protection and expenses of witness shall be met from the registration amount collected] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ ensure that all the notifications of the Government be produced in original in the court and a copy of the same be preserved] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iii)[ ensure that while filing the cases, all the papers, records, statements, evidence,panchnama and other material objects attached to the case file shall be in original] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iv)[ suspend the certificate of registration in the course of taking legal action of seizure and sealing of the facility] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](v)[ ensure that there shall be no violation of the provisions of the Medical Termination Pregnancy Act, 1971 (34 of 1971) and the Rules made there-under while implementing the provisions of the Pre-conception and Prenatal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Rules, 1996] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](vi)[ take immediate action for filing appeal, revision or other proceeding in higher courts in case of order of acquittal within a period of thirty days but not later than fifteen days of receipt of the order of acquittal] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(6) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall submit quarterly progress report to the Government of India through State Government and maintain Form H for keeping the information of all the registrations made readily available] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(7) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following regulation of ultrasound equipments, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ monitor the sales and import of ultrasound machines including portable or buyback, assembled, gift, scrap or demo] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ ensue regular quarterly reports from ultrasound manufacturers, dealers, wholesalers and retailers and any person dealing with the sales of ultrasound machines at the State level] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iii)[ conduct periodical survey and audit of all the ultrasound machines sold and operating in the State or district to identify the unregistered machines] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iv)[ file complaint against any owner of the unregistered ultrasound machine and against the seller of the unregistered ultrasound machine] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(8) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following conduct for inspection and monitoring, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ conduct regular inspection of all the registered facilities once in every ninety days and shall preserve the inspection report as documentary evidence and a copy of the same be handed over to the owner of facility inspected and obtain acknowledgement in respect of the inspection] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ place all the inspection reports once in three months before the Advisory Committee for follow up action] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iii)[ maintain bimonthly progress report containing number of cases filed and persons convicted, registration made, suspended or cancelled, medical licenses cancelled, suspended, inspections conducted, Advisory Committee meetings held at the district level and quarterly progress report at the State level] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](iv)[ (a) procure the copy of the charges framed within seven days and in the case of doctors, the details of the charges framed shall be submitted within seven days of the receipt of copy of charges framed to the State Medical Council] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](b)[ procure the certified copy of the order of conviction as soon as possible and in the case of conviction of the doctors, the certified copy of the order of conviction shall be submitted within seven days of the receipt of copy of the order of conviction] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(9) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall observe the following conduct for accountability, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ obtain prior sanction or approval of the Government of India for any resolution concerning the implementation of the provisions of the Act] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ take action, if any, required under the Act and immediately on receipt of notice under clause (b) of subsection (1) of section 28 of the Act and if he or she fails to do so, shall not be entitled for the protection under section 31 of the said Act and defend the case in his or her own capacity and at his or her own cost] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014][(10) All the Appropriate Authorities including the State, District and Sub-district notified under the Act, inter-alia, shall follow the following financial guidance, namely:-] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](i)[ maintain a separate and independent bank account operated by two officers jointly, at all levels] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014](ii)[ ensure transparency and adherence to standard Government financial norms for disbursement of money] [Inserted by Notification No. G.S.R. 119 (E) dated 24.2.2014]
