Less than 0.5% respondents oppose Uttar Pradesh population control bill

LUCKNOW: Debarring defaulters from even contesting Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha elections, confiscating their right to vote and relaxation in abortion rules are some of over 8,500 suggestions that the State Law Commission has received about the proposed Population Control Draft Bill.
Less than 0.5% suggestions are against the bill. Those opposing the draft bill have expressed fear that the two-child norm would give rise to sex-determination tests during pregnancy and even female foeticide. Out of 8,500 recommendations that the commission has received, just around 40 are against the bill.
The commission has prepared a 2,000-page document after collating all the suggestions from the general public. On the basis of their nature, the suggestions/recommendations have been divided into 53 categories.
A large number of former bureaucrats, high court judges, lawyers and even NRIs have sent their views on the draft bill and suggested modifications, the commission sources told TOI.

State Law Commission chairman Justice AN Mittal told TOI that the panel was considering all the suggestions, modifications and criticism in the light of the Constitution of India. He said that the Commission hoped to submit the draft bill with the state government latest by the second week of August.
According to sources, the majority of people have suggested barring those violating the Population Control Act from contesting even MLA and MP elections, while the commission has already recommended debarring such violators from contesting local elections.
Sources said that such suggestions cannot be entertained as the state government doesn’t have the right over Lok Sabha and Vidhan Sabha polls.
Many people have suggested that there should be complete restriction on polygamy and the that right to vote of those having more than two children should be curtailed. A few suggested that those who are having two daughters should be permitted to have a third child in hope of male child. There are a few who have recommended not to count daughters; others want parents having more than two children to be kept away from government ration, contracts, tender or licences.
Some of them have also suggested that the benefit of reservation should not be extended to couples who breach the two-child norm. Some are of the view that Abortion law should be relaxed because sometimes family planning methods fail. Some have even suggested honorarium to mothers having two or less children.
A few of them also suggested that the law should be linked with Aadhaar while others expressed concern that the proposed law would increase sex determination tests during pregnancy which can lead to rise in case of foeticide.
There are some who feel that the proposed law is a violation of the right to privacy. Some criticised the bill draft as it did not speak about single mothers or fathers. There were a few who wanted to know what would happen for divorced spouses, who remarry, widow or widower, etc.
Some also suggested that there should be free Haj pilgrimage for Muslims who adhere to the two-child norm. One person has also suggested a break of at least five increments if a government servant violates the two-child norm.
Some were of the view that by giving incentives for having one child, the Hindu community would become older after 20 years while others opined that the proposed law should not apply on SC/STs as is being done in Assam. There were opinions like either of the couple be given a government job for following the one-child norm.
Suggestions were also given to exempt Armed Forces personnel from this law as there has been tradition in various families to send their children to the army.
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