Commercial surrogacy has become a big business in India and the Centre has laid a plan of jail term up to 10 years and a fine of Rs.10 lakh for opting for commercial surrogacy and later on abandoning the child. The gay couple and live-in partners are not allowed to access surrogacy and that is a good news. The feature of the ruling is that the close relatives of couples seeking children will be allowed to be surrogate mothers. Further, legally wedded couples, who have been married for at least five years are allowed to opt for surrogacy. Again foreigners include non-resident Indians and persons of Indian Origin and overseas citizens of India will not be allowed to access surrogacy. In all the business motive of commercial surrogacy has come to a halt if the law is applied strictly.
(The views expressed by the author in the article are his/her own.)
