Holding

The Court held that the Central and State Governments must strictly implement the PNDT Act as directed, including appointing appropriate authorities, conducting public awareness, and submitting quarterly reports, and that no further judicial directions are required beyond those already issued.

Summary

The petitioners, including CEHAT, sought enforcement of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, alleging that the Central and State governments had failed to implement its provisions to curb sex‑selection and female foeticide. The Supreme Court examined the extent of non‑compliance, noting that many States had not filed affidavits, appointed appropriate authorities, or submitted quarterly reports as required. Relying on the Act’s mandate to prevent misuse of prenatal diagnostic techniques, the Court reiterated earlier directions and issued detailed orders for public awareness, regular meetings of the Central Supervisory Board, appointment of State Supervisory Boards, and submission of comprehensive quarterly returns. It emphasized that unregistered clinics must be prosecuted under Sections 23, 28 and 30 of the Act, and that the National Monitoring and Inspection Committee must continue its oversight until full implementation is achieved. The Court held that no further directions were necessary beyond those already issued and ordered the governments to comply with them. Consequently, the writ petition was disposed of after the Court’s comprehensive implementation directives.

Issues considered

Whether the Central Government and State Governments have complied with the implementation requirements of the PNDT Act.
Whether the courts can direct specific administrative actions, such as appointment of appropriate authorities and supervisory boards, to enforce the PNDT Act.
Whether unregistered diagnostic centres must be prosecuted under the Act.
Whether the governments must undertake public awareness campaigns and submit periodic reports as mandated by the Act.

Legislation cited

Pre‑conception and Pre‑natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994s. 16A, s. 16(iii), s. 17(3), s. 22, s. 23, s. 28, s. 2(d), s. 3, s. 30

Subjects

Sex selectionFemale foeticidePNDT Act implementationPublic awarenessCentral Supervisory BoardState Supervisory BoardPrenatal diagnostic techniquesGender discrimination

Judgment

CENTRE FOR ENQUIRY INTO HEALTH AND A
ALLIED THEMES (CEHAT) AND ORS.
V.

UNION OF INDIA AND ORS.

SEPTEMBER IO, 2003
B
[M.B. SHAH AND ASHOK BHAN, JJ.]

Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of
Sex Selection) Act, I 994:
c
Female infanticide-Sex selection/sex determination-Pre-natal
Diagnostic Techniques-Contravention of the provisions of PNDT Act-
Various directions isued to Central Government and States!UTs for proper
implementation of the provisions of the PNDT Act-Pre-natal Diagnostic
Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (Old). D
The petitioners had filed the present .writ petition before this
Court praying inter alia that as the Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques
contravene the provisions of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic
Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act, 1994 (PNDT), the E
Central Government and the State Governments be directed to
implement the provisions of the PNDT Act.

This Court issued directions for the proper implementation of the
PNDT Act to the following authorities. :
F
(a) Central Government.

(b) Central Supervisory Board.

(c) State Governments/UT Administrations.
G
(d) Appropriate Authorities.

However, to a large extent the PNDT Act was not implemented
by the Central Government or the State Governments. Certain States/
UTs did not even file their affidavits. H
593
594 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A Disposing of the petition, the Court directed :

(a) For effective implementation of the Act, information should
be published by way of advertisements as well as on electronic media.
This process should be continued until there is awareness in public that
B there should not be any discrimination between male and female child.
(b) Quarterly reports by the appropriate authority, which are
submitted to the Supervisory Board should be consolidated and
published annually for information of the public at large.

C (c) Appropriate authorities shall maintain the records of all the
meetings of the Advisory Committees.

(d) The national monitoring and Inspection Committee constituted
by the Central Government for conducting period inspection shall
D continue to function until the Act is effectively implemented.

(e) As provided under Rule 17(3) of the Pre-conception and Pre-
natal Diagnostic Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Rules, 1974,
public would have access to the records maintained by different bodies
constituted under the Act.
E
(f) Central Supervisory Board would ensure that the following
States appoint the State Supervisory Board as per the requirement of
Section 16A :

F 1. Delhi 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Tamil Nadu 4. Tripura 5. Uttar
Pradesh.

(g) As per the requirement of Section 17(3), the Central Supervisory
Board would ensure that the following States appoint the multi-
G member appropriate authorities :

1. Jharkhand 2. Maharashtra 3. Tripura 4. Tamil Nadu 5. Uttar
Pradesh. (605-E-H, 606-A-Dl

CIVIL ORIGINAL JURISDICTION : Writ Petition (C) No. 301 of
H 2000.
CENTRE FOR ENQUIRY INTO HEAL TH AND ALLIED THEMES (CEHAT) v. U.0.L [SHAH,l.] 595

Under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. A
Attorney General for India (NP), Raju Ramachandran, Additional
Solicitor General, P. Ghosh, Sanjay Parikh, Ashmita Basu, S.Santanam
Swaminadhan, A.N. Singh, P. Roy, Rauf Rahim, Rajeev Mehta, Krishan
Mahajan, Ms. Sunita Sharma, Ms. Anil Katiyar, D.S. Mahra, Ms. Hemantika B
Wahi, Ms. Aruna Gupta, Radha Shyam Jena, Ashok Mathur, Rajesh
Pathak, Altaf H. Nayak, Advocate General for J & K, Anis Suhrawardy,
J.S. Attri, V.N. Raghupathy, A.K. Shukla, Ms. Bharati Upadhyaya, Ranji
Thomas, Bhawani Shankar Gadnis, Shiv Sagar Tiwari, Akshay Gadnis, Ms.
Smitha Inna, Sanjay R. Hegde, R.K. Rathore, Addi. Advocate General, Ms.
Naresh Bakshi, R. S. Suri, Rajeev Sharma, Mrs. V.D. Khanna, U.U. Lalit, c
S.S. Shinde, Mukesh K. Giri, Khwairakpam Nobin Singh, B. V. Niren,
Guntur Prabhakar, Gopal Singh, Ms. Vimla Sinha, Ms. Vani Singh, Anil
Shrivastav, Jyoti Dutt, Ranjan Mukherjee, A.S. Punjdir, P.N. Ramalingam,
Tara Chandra Sharma, Ms. Neelam Sharma, S.K. Agnihotri, Sakesh
Kumar, B.B. Singh, Kumar Rajesh Singh, R.C. Verma, Mukesh Verma, D
Manish Shanker, V.G. Pragasam, Prakash Shrivastava, G.S. Chatterjee,
Ms. Rachana Srivastava, Bhargava V. Desai, Sanjeev Kumar Singh,
Pradeep Mallik, Chander Shekhar Ashri, Mohit K. Bhandari, Ms. Manjula
Gupta, Ms. Indra Sawhney, V. Ramasubramanian, B.V. Deepak, Dinesh
Kumar Garg, Arvind Kumar Tewari, Jasbir Malik, S.K. Sabharwal, Ms. E
Kamini Jaiswal, Neeraj Kumar Jain, Aditya Kr. Choudhary, Ms. Kavita,
Wadia, A. Mariarputham, Ms. Aruna Mathur, K.R. Sasiprabhu, Jay Savla,
Ms. Krishna Sarma, Ms. Asha G. Nair, V.K. Sidatharan, Ms. U. Hazarika,
Ms. Kamshankar, and Ms. Sunita Hazarika for the Appearing parties.

The Judgment of the Court was delivered by F

SHAH, J. : It is an admitted fact that in Indian Society, discrimination
against girl child still prevails, may be because of prevailing uncontrolled
dowry system despite the Dowry Prohibition Act, as there is no change in
the mind-set or also because of insufficient education and/or tradition of G
women being confined to household activities. Sex selection/sex
determination further adds to this adversity. It is also known that number
of persons condemn discrimination against women in all its forms, and
agree to pursue, by appropriate means, a policy of eliminating discrimination
against women, still however, we are not in a position to change mental H

..
596 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003) SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A set-up which favours a male child against a female. Advance technology
is increasingly used for removal of foetus (may or may not be seen as
commission of murder) but it certainly affects the sex ratio. The misuse
of modem science and technology by preventing the birth of girl child by
sex determination before birth and thereafter abortion is evident from the
B 2001 Census figures which reveal greater decline in sex ratio in the 0-6
age group in States like Haryana, Punjab, Maharashtra and Gujarat, which
are economically better off.

Despite this, it is unfortunate that law which aims at preventing such
practice is not implemented and, therefore, Non-Governmental Organisations
C are required to approach this Court for implementation of the Pre-natal
Diagnostic Techniques (Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994
renamed after amendment as "The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic
Techniques (Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act" (hereinafter referred to as
'the PNDT Act') which is the normal function of the Executive.
D
In this petition, it was inter alia prayed that as the Pre-natal
Diagnostic Techniques contravene the provisions of the PNDT Act, the
Central Government and the State Governments be directed to implement
the provisions of the PNDT Act (a) by appointing appropriate authorities
E at State and District levels and the Advisory Committees; (b) the Central
~ovemment be directed to ensure that Central Supervisory Board meets
every 6 months as provided under the PNDT Act; and (c) for banning of
all advertisements of pre-natal sex selection including all other sex
determination techniques which can be abused to selectively produce only
boys either before or during pregnancy.
F
After filing of this petition, notices were issued and thereafter various
orders from time to time were passed to see that the Act is effectively
implemented.

A) On 4th May 2001, following order was passed:-
G
"It is unfortunate that for one reason or the other, the practice
of female infanticide still prevails despite the fact that gentle touch
of a daughter and her voice has soothing effect on the parents.
One of the reasons may be the marriage problems faced by the
H parents coupled with the dowry demand by the so-called educated
CENTRE FOR ENQUIRY INTO HEALTH AND ALLIED THEMES (CEHATl v, U.0.1. [SHAH, I.] 597

and/or rich persons who are well placed in the society. The A
traditional system offemale infanticide whereby female baby was
done away with after birth by poisoning or letting her choke on
husk continues in a different form by taking advantage of advance
medical techniques. Unfortunately, developed medical science is
misused to get rid of a girl child before birth. Knowing full well B
that it is immoral and unethical as well as it may amount to an
offence, foetus of a girl child is aborted by qualified and
unqualified doctors or compounders. This has affected overall sex
ratio in various States where female infanticide is prevailing
without any hindrance.
c
For controlling the situation, the Parliament in its wisdom
enacted the Pre-natal Diagonstic Techniques (Regulation and
Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (hereinafter referred to as "the
PNDT Act"). The Preamble, inter a/ia, provides that the object
of the Act is to prevent the misuse of such techniques for the D
purpose of pre-natal sex determination leading to female foeticide
and for matters connected therewith or incidental thereto. The Act
came into force from !st January, 1996.

It is apparent that to a large extent, the PNDT Act is not E
implemented by the Central Government or by the State
Governments. Hence, the petitioners are required to approach this
Court under Article 32 of the Constitution of India. One of the
petitioners is the Centre for Enquiry Into Health and Allied
Themes (CEHA T) which is a research centre of Anusandhan Trust
based in Pune and Mumbai. Second petitioner is Mahila Sarvangeen F
Utkarsh Manda] (MASUM) based in Pune and Maharashtra and
the third petitioner is Dr. Sahu M. Georges who is having
experience and technical knowledge in the field. After filing of
this petition, this Court issued notices to the concerned parties on
9.5.2000. It took nearly one year for the various States to file their G
affidavits in reply/written submissions. Primafacie it appears that
despite the PNDT Act being enacted by the Parliament five years
back, neither the State Governments nor the Central Government
has taken appropriate actions/or its implementation. Hence, after
considering the respective submissions made at the time of H
598 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003) SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A hearing of this matter, as suggested by the learned Attorney
General for India, Mr. Soli J. Sorabjee following directions are
issued on the basis of various provisions for the proper
implementation of the PNDT Act :

I. Directions to the Central Government
B
1. The Central Government is directed to create public awareness
against the practice of pre-natal determination of sex and
female foeticide through appropriate releases I programmes
in the electronic media. This shall also be done by Central
c Supervisory Board ("CSB" for short) as provided under
Section l 6(iii) of the PNDT Act.

2. The Central Government is directed to implement with all
vigor and zeal the PNDT Act and the Rules framed in 1996.
Rule 15 provides that the intervening period between two
D
meetings of the Advisory Committees constituted under sub-
section (5) of Section 17 of the PNDT Act to advise the
appropriate authority shall not exceed 60 days. It would be
seen that this Rule is strictly adhered to.

E II. Directions to the Central Supervisory Board (CSB)

I. Meetings of the CSB will be held at least once in six months.
[Re. Proviso to Section 9(1)) The constitution of the CSB
is provided under Section 7. It empowers the Central
F Government to appoint ten members under Section 7(2)(e)
which includes eminent medical practitioners including
eminent social scientists and representatives of women
welfare organizations. We hope that this power will be
exercised so as to include those persons who can genuinely
spare some time for implementation of the Act.
G
2. The CSB shall review and monitor the implementation of the
Act. [Re. Section 16(ii)].

3. The CSB shall issue directions to all State/UT. Appropriate
H Authorities to furnish quarterly returns to the CSB giving a
CENTRE FOR ENQUIRY INTO HEALTH AND ALLIED THEMES (CEHAT) v. U.0.1. [SHAH,!.] 599

report on the implementation and working of the Act. A
These returns should inter alia contain specific information
about :

(i) Survey of bodies specified in section 3 of the Act.

(ii) Registration of bodies specified in section 3 of the Act. B
(iii) Action taken against non-registered bodies operating in
violation of section 3 of the Act, inclusive of search and
seizure of records.

(iv) Complaints received by the Appropriate Authorities
c
under the Act and action taken pursuant thereto.

(v) Number and nature of awareness campaigns conducted
and results flowing therefrom.
D
4. The CSB shall examine the necessity to amend the Act
keeping in mind emerging technologies and difficulties
encountered in implementation of the Act and to make
recommendations to the Central Government. [Re. Section
16]
E
5. The CSB shall lay down a code of conduct under section
l 6(iv) of the Act to be observed by persons working in
bodies specified therein and to ensure its publication so that
public at large can know about it.
F
6. The CSB will require medical professional bodies/associations
to create awareness against the practice of pre-natal
determination of sex and female foeticide and to ensure
implementation of the Act.

III. Directions to State Governments/UT Administrations G
1. All State Governments/UT Administrations are directed to
appoint by notification, fully empowered Appropriate
Authorities at district and sub-district levels and also Advisory
Committees to aid and advise the Appropriate Authority in H
600 SUPREME COURT REPORTS (2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A discharge of its functions (Re. Section 17(5)]. For the
Advisory Committee also, it is hoped that members of the
said Committee as provided under section 17(6)(d) should
be such persons who can devote some time for the work
assigned to them.
B 2. All State Governments/UT Administrations are directed to
publish a list of the Appropriate Authorities in the print and
electronic media in its respective State/UT.

3. All State Governments/UT Administrations are directed to
C create public awareness against the practice of pre-natal
determination of sex and female foeticide through
advertisement in the print and electronic media by hoarding
and other appropriate means.

4. All State Governments/UT Administrations are directed to
D ensure that all State/UT appropriate Authorities furnish
quarterly returns to the CSB giving a report on the
implementation and working of the Act. These returns
should inter alia contain specific information about :

E (i) Survey of bodies specified in section 3 of the Act.

(ii) Registration of bodies specified in section 3 of the Act.

(iii) Action taken against non-registered bodies operating in
violation of section 3 of the Act, inclusive of search and
F seizure of records.

(iv) Complaints received by the Appropriate Authorities under
the Act and action taken pursuant thereto.

(v) Number and nature of awareness campaigns conducted and
G results flowing therefrom.

IV. Directions to Appropriate Authorities

I. Appropriate Authorities are directed to take prompt action
H against any person or body who issues or causes to be issued
CENTRE FOR ENQUIRY INTO HEALTH AND ALLIED THEMES (CEHAT) v. U.0.1. [SHAH, J.) 60 J

any advertisement in violation of section 22 of the Act. A
2. Appropriate Authorities are directed to take prompt action
against all bodies specified in section 3 of the Act as also
against persons who are operating without a valid certificate
of registration under the Act.
B
3. All State/lJT Appropriate Authorities are directed to furnish
quarterly returns to the CSB giving a report on the
implementation and working of the Act. These returns
should· inter alia contain specific information about: -

(i) Survey of bodies specified in section 3 of the Act.
c
(ii) Registration of bodies specified in section 3 of the Act
including bodies using ultrasound machines.

(iii) Action taken against non-registered bodies operating in D
violation of section 3 of the Act, inclusive of search and
seizure of records.

(iv) Complaints received by the Appropriate Authorities
under the Act and action taken pursuant thereto. E
(v) Number and nature of awareness campaigns conducted
and results flowing therefrom.

The CSB and the St~te Governments/Union Territories are
directed to report to this Court on or before 30th July 200 I. List F
the matter on 6.8.2001 for further directions at the bottom of the
list."

B] Inspite of the above order, certain States/UTs did not file their
affidavits. Matter was adjourned from time to time and on 19th September, G
200 I, following order was passed :

"Heard the learned counsel for the parties and considered the
affidavits filed on behalf of various States. From the said
affidavits, it appears that the directions issued by this Court are
H
602 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A not complied with.

I. At the outset, we may state that there is total slackness by
the Administration in implementing the Act. Some learned
counsel pointed out that even though the Genetic Counselling
Centre, Genetic Laboratories or Genetic Clinics are not registered,
B no action is taken as provided under Section 23 of the Act, but
only a warning is issued. In our view, those Centres which are
not registered are required to be prosecuted by the Authorities
under the provisions of the Act and there is no question of issue
of warning and to permit them to continue their illegal activities.
c
It is to be stated that the Appropriate Authorities or any
officer of the Central or the State Government authorised in this
behalf is required to file complaint under Section 28 of the Act
for prosecuting the offenders.
D
Further wherever at District Level, appropriate authorities
are appointed, they must carry out the necessary survey of Clinics
and take appropriate action in case of non-registration or non-
compliance of the statutory provisions including the Rules.
Appropriate authorities are not only empowered to take criminal
E
action, but to search and seize documents, records, objects etc.
of unregistered bodies under Section 30 of the Act.

2. It has been pointed out that the States/Union Territories have
not submitted quarterly returns to the Central Supervisory Board
F on implementation of the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques
(Regulation and Prevention of Misuse) Act, 1994 (hereinafter
referred to as "the Act"). Hence it is directed that the quarterly
returns to Central Supervisory Board should be submitted giving
the following information :
G
(a) Survey of Centres, Laboratories/Clinics,

(b) Registration of these bodies,
....•
(c) Action taken against unregistered bodies,
H
CENTRE FOR ENQUIRY INTO HEALTH AND ALLIED THEMES (CEHAT) v. U.0.1. (SHAH,!.] 603

(d) Search and Seizure, A
(e) Number of awareness campaigns, and

(f) Results of campaigns"

C] On 7th November, 2001, learned counsel forthe Union of India B
stated that the Central Government has decided to take concrete steps for
the implementation of the Act and suggested to set up National Inspection
and Monitoring Committee for the implementation of the Act. It was
ordered accordingly.

D] On I Ith December, 200 I, it was pointed out that certain State C
Governments have not disclosed the names of the members of the Advisory
Committee. Consequently, the State Governments were directed to publish
the names of advisory committee in various districts so that if there is
any complaint, any citizen can approach them. The Court further observed
~s: D
"For implementation of the Act and the rules, it appears that
it would be desirable ifthe Central Government frames appropriate
rules with regard to sale of ultrasound machines to various clinics
and issue directions not to sell machines to unregistered clinics. E
Learned counsel Mr. Mahajan appearing for Union of India
_., submitted that appropriate action would be taken in this direction
as early as possible."

E] On March 31, 2003, it was pointed out that in conformity
with the various directions issued by this Court, the Act has been amended F
and titled as "The Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostic Techniques
(Prohibition of Sex Selection) Act". It was submitted that people are
not aware of the new amendment and, therefore, following reliefs were
sought :

a) direct the Union of India, State Governments I UTs and the G
authorities constituted under the PNDT Act to prohibit sex
selection techniques and its advertisement throughout the
country;

b) direct that the appropriate authorities shall also include H

.
604 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A "vehicles" with ultra sound machines etc., in their quarterly
reports hereinafter as defined under Section 2(d);

c) any person or institution selling Ultra Sound machine should
provide infonnation to the appropriate State Authority in
furtherance of Section 3-B of the Amended Act;
B
d) direct that State Supervisory Boards be constituted in
accordance with the amended Section l 6A in order to carry
out the functions enumerated therein;

c e) direct appropriate authorities to initiate suo moto legal
action under the amended Section I 7(iv)(e);

t) direct that the Central Supervisory Board shall publish half
yearly consolidated reports based on the quarterly reports
obtained from the State bodies. These reports should
D specifically contain infonnation on:

I. Survey of bodies and the number of bodies registered.

2. Functioning of the regulatory bodies providing the
number and dates of meetings held.
E
3. Action taken against non-registered bodies inclusive of
search and seizure of records.

4. Complaints received and action taken pursuant thereto.
F
5. Nature and number of awareness programmes.

6. Direct that the Central Supervisory Board shall carry
out all the additional functions as given under the
amended Section 16 of the Act, in particular, to oversee
G the perfonnance of various bodies constituted under
the Act and take appropriate steps to ensure its proper

-
and effective implementation.

As against this, Mr. Mahajan learned counsel appearing for
H the Union of India submits that on the basis of the aforesaid

•
CENTRE FOR ENQUIRY INTO HEALTH AND ALLIED THEMES (CEHAT) v. U.O.l. [SHAH, J.] 605

amendment, appropriate action has already been taken by Union A
of India for implementation and almost all State Governments/
UTs are informed to implement the said Act and the Rules and
the State Governments/UTs are directed to submit their quarterly
report to the Central Supervisory Board.

Considering the amendment in the Act, in our view, it is the
B
duty of the Union Government as well as the State Governments/
UTs to implement the same as early as possible."

F] At the time of hearing, learned counsel for the pet1t10ners
submitted that appropriate directions including the steps which are required C
to be taken on the basis of PNDT Act and the suggestion as given in the
written submission be issued.

On this aspect, learned counsel for the parties were heard.

In view of the various directions issued by this Court, as quoted
D
above, no further directions are required except that the directions issued
by this Court on 4th May, 2001, 7th November, 2001, !Ith December,
2001 and 3 lst March, 2003 should be complied with. The Central
Government/State Governments/UTs are further directed that :
E
(a) For effective implementation of the Act, information should
be published by way of advertisements as well as on
electronic media. This process should be continued till there
is awareness in public that there should not be any
discrimination between male and female child. F
(b) Quarterly reports by the appropriate authority, which are
submitted to the Supervisory Board should be consolidated
and published annually for information of the public at large.

( c) Appropriate authorities shall maintain the records of all the G
meetings of the Advisory Committees.

(d) The National Monitoring and Inspection Committee
constituted by the Central Government for conducting periodic
inspection shall continue to function till the Act is effectively H
606 SUPREME COURT REPORTS [2003] SUPP. 3 S.C.R.

A implemented. The reports of this Committee be placed
before the Central Supervisory Board and State Supervisory
Board for any further action.

(e) As provided under Rule 17(3), public would have access to
the records maintained by different bodies constituted under
B the Act.

(t) Central Supervisory Board would ensure that the following
States appoint the State Supervisory Board as per the
requirement of Section 16A.
c
I. Delhi 2. Himachal Pradesh 3. Tamil Nadu
4. Tripura 5. Uttar Pradesh.

(g) As per requirement of Section 17(3)(a), the Central
Supervisory Board would ensure that the following States
D appoint the multi-member appropriate authorities:

I. Jharkhand 2. Maharashtra 3. Tripura
4. Tamil Nadu 5. Uttar Pradesh

E It will be open to the parties to approach this Court in case of any
difficulty in implementing the aforesaid directions.

The Writ Petition is disposed of accordingly.

In view of the aforesaid order, pending "IAs have become infructuous
F and are disposed of accordingly.
v.s.s. Petition disposed of.