Supreme Court hints at ban on commercial surrogacy

The Supreme Court on Wednesday suggested a possible ban on commercial surrogacy as India is increasingly becoming a popular destination for the surrogacy tourism.

The SC also asked the government to re-examine the policies that allow the import of human embryo in India. Raising concerns over several issues related to surrogacy in India, a bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and NV Ramana said that there are various surrogacy issues that are not covered by law and it is impetus on the government to bring in a legislation. 

The Centre in 2013 had issued a notification which allowed human embryos to be imported to India for artificial reproduction. The move led various foreign couples to seek surrogacy in India.

The  bench said, "Commercial surrogacy should not be allowed but it is going on in the country. You are allowing trading of human embryo. It is becoming a business. It has evolved into surrogacy tourism," a leading daily reported.