SC directs Google, MS, Yahoo not to put ads on sex determination

New Delhi, Jan 29, 2015: The Supreme Court on Wednesday directed Google, Yahoo, Microsoft and other IT majors not to place any advertisements relating to sex determination of foetus on their websites and search engines as they violate the provisions of the Pre-conception and Pre-natal Diagnostics Act. The court asked the companies to remove such advertisements forthwith from their websites, if any. The apex court had passed these orders after admitting for hearing a petition saying that such advertisements are encouraging sex determination tests across the country as a result of which female sex ratio has drastically declined. The petition was filed by veteran social activist Sabu Mathew George who argued that such advertisements have resulted in increased sex determination tests through out the country and a decline in the female child ratio. "All such advertisements must be banned immediately to curb the tests," the petitioner's counsel told the court. Agreeing with the petitioner, the court asked the Google, Microsoft, Yahoo and other major search engines and websites to display terms and conditions of service to say that such advertisements would not be allowed on their websites. The apex court has also asked the companies not to use key words such as pre-natal diagnostic tests, pre-natal conception tests and pre-natal foetoscopy tests and so on.