Rajya Sabha discusses Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2019

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Rajya Sabha today discussed the Surrogacy Regulation Bill, 2019 for consideration and passage.

The Bill prohibits commercial surrogacy, but allows altruistic surrogacy. It has provisions to constitute National Surrogacy Board, State Surrogacy Board and appointment of appropriate authorities for the regulation of practice and process of surrogacy.

The Bill was moved by the Health Minister Dr. Harsh Vadhan yesterday.

Participating in the discussion, Ms Amee Yajnik of Congress said, it is a much-needed bill but there are so many lacunae in it.

She raised the question on the definition of close relatives. She demanded to send this bill to the Select Committee for further deliberations.

Mr V. Vijaysai Reddy of Y S R Congress also raised fingers on the clause related to infertility and demanded that NRI Indian should also get the right.

Prof. Manoj Jha of RJD supported the bill. However, he said, that some of the clauses are discriminatory.

Dr. Vikas Mahatme of BJP supported the bill and said this legislation will benefit the parents. Mr Binoy Viswam of CPI said, single women must also be given the right to get the child from surrogacy.

Mr Jairam Ramesh of Congress said, the practice of commercial surrogacy has been misused in the past. He said, the definition of a close relative is very dangerous and the clauses of this bill must be relooked.

He appealed to the government to consider all the points raised by the members. The discussion remained inconclusive.