'Centre's duty to control population explosion,' says rejoinder in SC

In response to the Health Ministry's affidavit stating that it cannot force family planning and would not be taking any coercive action towards it, a rejoinder in Supreme Court said that the Centre must control population explosion as 'Population Control and Family Planning' is part of List III of the 7th schedule.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Saturday was informed that it is the Central government's responsibility to frame rules to control population explosion as 'Population Control and Family Planning' is part of List III of the 7th schedule. While hearing a rejoinder filed by Advocate Ashwini Upadhyay against Health Ministry's affidavit over population control in India, the top court was informed that the Centre has failed to take any appropriate steps.

According to a Health Ministry affidavit, it cannot force family planning and would not be taking any coercive action towards it. Upadhyay contended that population explosion is the root cause of most of the most problems in India including pollution as well as a shortage of resources like water, land, forests, clothes and food. Citing a survey, he informed the court that about 80 per cent of criminals and offenders belong to families who have not followed the 'two children' policy.

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"Population explosion is more critical than bomb explosion and without implementing effective population control measures no development campaign being run in the country would succeed," read the rejoinder.

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Upadhyay also emphasized that women bear the brunt of giving birth to so many children and often have to face health risks including grand multiparity, antepartum haemorrhage and many others. "The adverse effects are not only borne by the mothers but also their babies who can possibly face prematurity, low birth weight etc. Problems like malnutrition and anaemia are the ill effects of having too many children." The matter has been posted for the next hearing on July 5.

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