Chandigarh, 9 Dec — The Punjab and Haryana High Court on Monday stayed a July 2025 communication from the Haryana government that barred certain medical officers from travelling abroad if the sex ratio in their jurisdiction was reported poor.
The bench of Justice Sandeep Moudgil passed the order while hearing a petition by Dr. Tarun Singla, a junior doctor at Chautala Community Health Centre (CHC), who challenged both his suspension and the restrictions on foreign travel.
Singla argued that he had no statutory role in enforcing the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PC-PNDT) Act, which assigns enforcement duties to district appropriate authorities headed by civil surgeons. “Fastening exclusive responsibility for sex-ratio outcomes on a medical officer who is only following instructions of the medical officer-in-charge is legally impermissible,” the petition stated.
The court also noted that the suspension order against him cited no misconduct, violation of the PC-PNDT Act, complaints, or inspections. “Foreign travel restrictions have no nexus with the objective sought to be achieved and are unduly harsh,” Singla’s plea added.
The government has been asked to respond by April 22, 2026.
