The Metropolitan Magistrate court on Tuesday convicted the parents of a newborn, for abandoning her in hospital, because she is a girl
The Metropolitan Magistrate court on Tuesday convicted the parents of a newborn, for abandoning her in hospital, because she is a girl.
Magistrate Amitabh A Panchbhai convicted Kalpana Pandit (38) and Nandu Pandit (44), and sentenced them to one year imprisonment along with fine of Rs 25,000, under Sections 317 (Exposure and abandonment of child) and 34 (common intention) of the Indian Penal Code.
Magistrate Panchbhai observed, “The child was only exposed to abandonment and high risk because she was a female. She was born weak. Her own parents did this, shocking the conscience of any civilised person. The growing menace of such discrimination of the girl child must be cured by an iron fist. This court is not inclined to pass a flea bite sentence of only few months imprisonment, and hence little stringent sentencing is required to be passed in this case applying the principle of proportionality.”
Kalpana came to Mumbai from Akola and was admitted to Nair Hospital for delivery. Nandu works at Grant Road. Kalpana delivered the baby on March 19, 2015 and was discharged on April 1. The baby had a disease, so they admitted her again to Nair Hospital for treatment. On April 23, the parents left, leaving her there. According to a security guard who deposed as a witness, at 11:40 am he saw her alone.
The Agripada police took the details of the parents from the hospital and called them to the police station. The parents confessed to the crime of abandoning the baby girl, and were arrested.
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