Mumbai: The Maharashtra Health Department has directed medical councils to cancel the licences of 34 doctors within a week for alleged violations of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act, 1994, amid concerns over illegal sex determination and female foeticide. The directive follows questions that were raised about the implementation of the law during the ongoing session of the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly.The decision was taken after a review meeting chaired by Health Minister Prakash Abitkar to assess the enforcement of the PCPNDT Act across the state. He emphasised that strict disciplinary measures would be taken against doctors found violating provisions related to prenatal sex determination and female foeticide.Also Read: Tamil Nadu cancels transplant licenses of 2 private hospitals over illegal organ tradeAccording to a report by Hindustan Times, the minister issued clear instructions to expedite disciplinary proceedings against practitioners whose cases have remained pending before medical councils. “The government has taken serious note of violations related to the PCPNDT Act. Strict action will be taken against medical practitioners involved in illegal sex determination and female foeticide. We have directed authorities to cancel pending licences within a week and ensure that cases are pursued in court so that offenders are barred from medical practice,” he said.Official records showed that the state health department has initiated action against 193 medical practitioners across Maharashtra since the PCPNDT Act came into force. These practitioners are registered with different professional bodies, including the Maharashtra Medical Council, Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine, and Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy.However, disciplinary action against 34 doctors had remained pending with these councils. Among them, 14 are registered with the Maharashtra Medical Council, 10 with the Maharashtra Council of Indian Medicine, and 10 with the Maharashtra Council of Homoeopathy, officials said.Under Section 23(2) of the PCPNDT Act, once a registered medical practitioner is charged with violating provisions of the law, the appropriate authority must inform the concerned state medical council so that disciplinary action can be initiated against the practitioner.During the review meeting, authorities also examined cases in which chargesheets related to female foeticide have already been filed. In such cases, officials have been directed to complete the process of suspending the licences of the accused doctors within a week while the trials are pending.Dr Sandeep Sangale, joint director at the Maharashtra Family Welfare Bureau, said the state government has instructed authorities to fast-track licence suspension procedures in these cases until the courts deliver their final verdicts.Also Read: Illegal sex determination racket: Pune BAMS doctor, agent arrested