Section 12 in The Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Rules, 1996
12. Procedure for search and seizure.
(1)The Appropriate Authority or any officer authorised in this behalf may enter and search at all reasonable times any Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory, Genetic Clinic, Imaging Centre or Ultrasound Clinic in the presence of two or more independent witnesses for the purposes of search and examination of any record, register, document, book, pamphlet, advertisement, or any other material object found therein and seal and seize the same if there is reason to believe that it may furnish evidence of commission of an offence punishable under the Act.Explanation .-In these rules-(1)"Genetic Laboratory/Genetic Clinic/Genetic Counselling Centre" would include an ultrasound centre/imaging centre/nursing home/hospital/institute or any other place, by whatever name called, where any of the machines or equipments capable of selection of sex before or after conception or performing any procedure technique or test for pre-natal detection of sex of foetus, is used;(2)"material object" would include records, machines and equipments; and(3)"seize" and "seizure" would include "seal" and "sealing" respectively.](2)A list of any document, record, register, book, pamphlet, advertisement or any other material object found in the Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic and seized shall be prepared in duplicate at the place of effecting the seizure. Both copies of such list shall be signed on every page by the Appropriate Authority or the officer authorised in this behalf and by the witnesses to the seizure:Provided that the list may be prepared, in the presence of the witnesses, at a place other than the place of seizure if, for reasons to be recorded in writing, it is not practicable to make the list at the place of affection the seizure.(3)One copy of the list referred to in sub-rule (2) shall be handed over, under acknowledgement, to the person from whose custody the document, record, register, book, pamphlet, advertisement or any other material object have been seized:Provided that a copy of the list of such document, record, register, book pamphlet, advertisement or other material object sized may be delivered under acknowledgement, or sent by registered post to the owner or manager of the Genetic counselling Centre, Genetic laboratory or Genetic Clinic, if no person acknowledging custody of the document, record, register, book, pamphlet, advertisement or other material object seized is available at the place of effecting the seizure.(4)If any material object seized is perishable in nature, the Appropriate Authority, or the officer authorised in this behalf shall make arrangements promptly for sealing, identification and preservation of the material object and also convey it to a facility for analysis or test, if analysis or test be required:Provided that the refrigerator or other equipment used by the Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic I .aboratory or Genetic Clinic for preserving such perishable material object may be sealed until such time as arrangements can be made for safe removal of such perishable material object and in such eventuality, mention of keeping the material object seized, on the premises of the Genetic counselling Centre or Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic shall be made in the list of seizure.(5)In the case of non-completion of search and seizure operation, the Appropriate Authority or the officer authorized in this behalf may make arrangements, by way of mounting a guard or sealing of the premises of the Genetic Com 1 selling Centre, Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic, for safe keeping, listing and removal of documents, records, book or any other material object to be seized, and to prevent any tampering with such documents, records, books or any other material object.
