July 21, 2015 by admin

Diagnostic centre sealed by CPS Sidhu reopens

Patiala, July 21
Less than 10 months after Dr Navjot Kaur Sidhu, Chief Parliamentary Secretary (CPS), Health, found that a diagnostic centre here reportedly conducted sex determination tests, it has been opened again. The Health and Family Welfare Department had lodged a case in a Patiala court against its owner Dr Hitesh Malhotra under the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Act. The matter is still pending.
Civil Surgeon Dr Rajiv Bhalla said the centre had been opened after District Attorney pointed out that the machines at the centre were not a case property and should not be sealed.
However, the CPS alleged some top officials in the department were helping the erring doctor. She has decided to file an appeal in the court in this regard.
Dr Sidhu had carried out a sting operation on Malhotra Diagnostic Centre on September 25, 2014, with the help of a decoy patient. She had reportedly found that the centre conducted sex determination tests.
Thereafter, the ultrasound centre was sealed on the directions of the CPS. The department had filed the challan since this was the second time the centre was reportedly found conducting sex determination tests.
An annoyed Dr Sidhu said she would attend the hearing to speed up the case. “There is no doubt that the doctor is guilty. After examining the patient, he had told her that she carried a female foetus, which is confirmed now since the girl child has been born. I will make sure the centre is sealed again,” she said. Dr Malhotra could not be contacted despite repeated attempts.