Surrogacy Bill: Singles, don't lose hope yet

With a lot of celebrities opting for it recently, surrogacy has been a hot topic of discussion. 

According to a report by The Hindu, the Supreme Court on Tuesday said that a representation could be made to the Parliamentary Standing Committee in favour of single persons embracing parenthood through surrogacy. The draft Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill 2016 currently allows only infertile and married Indian couples to have children via surrogacy. However, the parliamentary committee will have to include “specific provisions” ​in the bill to make it possible.

Though the bill does not clearly ban single parents from opting for surrogacy, it doesn't permit them either. The Solicitor-General will thus have to formally hand the plea to the legislative panel.

In November last year, a Bill seeking a ban on commercial surrogacy in India was introduced in the Lok Sabha to safeguard the rights of surrogate mothers and children born through surrogacy.

Minister of Health & Family Welfare JP Nadda had introduced the Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016. If the bill is approved, there will be a complete ban on commercial surrogacy, but altruistic surrogacy (when a surrogate is given no financial gain for carrying a child) will be permitted for needy infertile couples under strict regulations.

The bill entitles only Indian citizens to avail of surrogacy. Foreigners, NRIs and Persons of Indian Origin Card (PIO) are not allowed to seek surrogacy in the country.