Femicide = murder: CM

PATIALA: National Law Commission should make suitable amendments in the existing provisions of Indian Penal Code (IPC) to equate female foeticide with murder in terms of punishment, as it was a heinous crime perpetrated by anti-social elements in the society and must be condemned by one and all, suggested Punjab CM Parkash Singh Badal. He was presiding over the national seminar on ‘family law: problems and perspectives’ organised by Rajiv Gandhi National University of Law (RGNUL) at central state library here on Saturday. Badal said female foeticide was not only a social evil but also had repercussions in the society in terms of adverse sex ratio which was posing a threat to the existence of a harmonious society. He asked voluntary, non-governmental and religious organisations to play a pro-active role in raising awareness amongst people with regard to the social malady. Justice Arijit Pasayat, judge, Supreme Court of India, was the chief guest. He stressed the need for the society to change its mindset regarding the status of women. He quoted Oswald Spengler, who had said: "A nation is never really defeated until it sells its woman." Justice Ashok Bhan, judge, Supreme Court of India, who was the guest of honour, commented on the situation as shown by the 2001 census, which is one of gender imbalance. He said it can all be curbed only through social awareness, empowerment of women, ensuring good health care service and a strict ethical code for doctors. Justice Vijender Jain, chief justice, Punjab and Haryana High Court and chancellor of this university, also stressed that the need of the hour was for the society to start a campaign against prevailing evil practices. Badal also showed concerns for the plight of poor students from rural areas and asked RGNUL chancellor to make a special provision for reservation of a few seats in the university. He pointed out that only 4% such students could pursue studies at the university level due to penury