Karnataka High Court
Smt. Xxxx vs Union Of India on 8 February, 2024
Author: M.Nagaprasanna
Bench: M.Nagaprasanna
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NC: 2024:KHC:5312
WP No. 3215 of 2024
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU
DATED THIS THE 8TH DAY OF FEBRUARY, 2024
BEFORE
THE HON'BLE MR JUSTICE M.NAGAPRASANNA
WRIT PETITION NO. 3215 OF 2024 (GM-RES)
BETWEEN:
1. SMT. XXXX,
W/O XXXX,
AGED ABOUT 41 YEARS.
2. SRI. XXXX,
S/O XXXX,
AGED ABOUT 39 YEARS.
BOTH 1 AND 2 ARE
RESIDING AT #301, NO.16/2,
4TH A CROSS,
30TH MAIN ROAD, 2ND STAGE,
BTM LAYOUT, BANGALORE SOUTH
BANGALORE - 560 076.
Digitally signed ...PETITIONERS
by NAGAVENI
Location: HIGH (BY SRI. ABHIRAJ B. CHENGTI, ADVOCATE)
COURT OF
KARNATAKA AND:
1. UNION OF INDIA,
THROUGH MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE, NIRMAN BHAVAN,
NEW DELHI - 110 011,
(THROUGH ITS SECRETARY)
2. THE KARNATAKA STATE APPROPRIATE AUTHORITY,
ART AND SURROGACY ACT,
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NC: 2024:KHC:5312
WP No. 3215 of 2024
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE,
AROGYA SOUDHA, BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA - 560 023,
(THROUGH ITS MEMBER SECRETARY)
3. THE DISTRICT MEDICAL BOARD,
CONSTITUTED UNDER SURROGACY (REGULATIONS)
ACT, 2021,
K.C. GENERAL HOSPITAL,
MALLESHWARAM, BENGALURU,
KARNATAKA - 560 023,
(THROUGH ITS CHAIRPERSON)
...RESPONDENTS
(BY SMT. SADHANA S. DESAI, CGC FOR R1;
SMT. NAVYA SHEKHAR, AGA FOR R2 AND R3)
THIS WP IS FILED UNDER ARTICLES 226 AND 227 OF
THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA PRAYING TO QUASH THE
IMPUGNED NOTIFICATION DATED:14.03.2023 BEARING
NO.GSR.179(E) ISSUED BY R1 PRODUCED AT ANNEXURE-E AS
BEING ULTRA VIRES THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA,
SURROGACY (REGULATIONS) ACT, 2021 AND ETC.
THIS PETITION, COMING ON FOR PRELIMINARY HEARING
IN 'B' GROUP, THIS DAY, THE COURT MADE THE FOLLOWING:
ORDER
The petitioners are before this Court, seeking the following prayers:
"I. Issue Writ of Certiorari quashing the impugned Notification Dated 14.03.2023 bearing No. GSR.179(E) issued by Respondent No.1 produced at ANNEXURE E as being ultra vires the constitution of India, Surrogacy (Regulations) Act, 2021.
II. Issue a Writ of mandamus or any other writ, order or direction, directing the respondent No. 3 to rectify the -3- NC: 2024:KHC:5312 WP No. 3215 of 2024 surrogacy certificate Dated 20.01.2024 bearing no. KCGH/Surrogacy/170/2023-24 issued in favour of petitioners produced at ANNEXURE F and allow them to go for surrogacy with donor eggs/Oocytes.
III. Issue a Writ of mandamus or any other writ, order or direction, directing the respondent No.2 to issue Eligibility and Essentiality Certificates on fulfilment of all the other conditions laid down under the surrogacy (Regulations) Act, 2021 and allow petitioners to go for altruistic surrogacy with donor eggs/Oocytes.
IV. Issue such other order/directions/relief as this Hon'ble court may deem fit to grant in the circumstances of the case."
2. Heard Sri. Abhiraj B. Chengti, learned counsel appearing for the petitioners, Smt. Sadhana S. Desai, learned CGC appearing for respondent No.1, Smt. Navya Shekhar, learned AGA appearing for respondent Nos.2 and 3 and have perused the material on record.
3. The relief sought by the petitioners in the subject petition is identical to the one that was sought in W.P.No.15824/2023, which is disposed by permitting surrogacy on manifold reasons. The order passed in W.P.No.15824/2023, disposed on 18.11.2023, reads as follows:
"(i) Writ Petition is allowed in part.
(ii) The challenge to the notification dated 14-03-2023 is left unanswered, as the challenge to it is pending consideration before the Apex Court.-4-
NC: 2024:KHC:5312 WP No. 3215 of 2024
(iii) For the reasons rendered in the course of the order, the notification dated 14-03-2023 is declared inapplicable to the case of the petitioners.
(iv) The petitioners are entitled to opt for surrogacy for the reasons rendered in the course of the order.
(v) The petitioners would become entitled to opt for surrogacy, subject to them fulfilling all other conditions and requirements under the statute, except the one that is in the notification dated 14- 03-2023.
(vi) In the light of the findings rendered in the course of the order, the Authorities cannot insist or direct the petitioners that the donor gamete cannot be made use of by the intending couple. The Authorities shall forthwith process the applications, if any and issue Eligibility Certificate/Essentiality Certificate, if the intending couple would fulfil all other conditions."
The aforesaid order was passed on account of the health condition as prayed by the petitioners in the document appended to the writ petition in the case at hand as well. The medical condition of the petitioners are intending mother through surrogacy are also the one that is considered in the aforesaid writ petition. The medical certificate reads as follows:
" .....
The District Medical Board Examined the available medical reports on records of the intending couple (Husband / Wife) and hereby certify that the Smt. xxxx and Sri. xxxx satisfy the provision as per rule 14(c), (d) of The Surrogacy (Regulation) rules, 2022. In view of intending mother 39 years with "History of severe vaginismus secondary to past severe psychological trauma. Hence she can undergo Altruistic surrogacy -5- NC: 2024:KHC:5312 WP No. 3215 of 2024 procedure as an advanced treatment for infertility with their own gametes as per recent surrogacy amendment act of 14th march 2023."
(emphasis added) Therefore, the issue stands covered on all its fours to the judgment rendered by this Court in W.P.No.15824/2023.
4. For the very reasons rendered to allow surrogacy in W.P.N.15824/2023, this petition deserves to succeed, and granting of the same relief.
5. For the aforesaid reasons, the following:
ORDER
(i) Writ Petition is allowed-in-part.
(ii) The challenge to the notification dated 14-03-2023 is left unanswered, as the challenge to it is pending consideration before the Apex Court.
(iii) For the reasons rendered in the course of the order, the notification dated 14-03-2023 is declared inapplicable to the case of the petitioners.-6-
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(iv) The petitioners are entitled to opt for surrogacy for the reasons rendered in the course of the order.
(v) The petitioners would become entitled to opt for surrogacy, subject to them fulfilling all other conditions and requirements under the statute, except the one that is in the notification dated 14-03-2023.
(vi) In the light of the findings rendered in the course of the order, the Authorities cannot insist or direct the petitioners that the donor gamete cannot be made use of by the intending couple. The Authorities shall forthwith process the applications, if any and issue Eligibility Certificate/Essentiality Certificate, if the intending couple would fulfill all other conditions.
Sd/-
JUDGE SJK List No.: 3 Sl No.: 13 CT:SNN