Draft surrogacy bill is required: Law Commission Chairman

New Delhi, Sep 20 (PTI) Law Commission Chairman B SChauhan today came out in support of the draft surrogacy bill,saying such a step was required. Addressing a seminar here, Justice Chauhan (retd), whohad been a judge of Supreme Court, said the draft measurecleared by the Cabinet "is required" at a time when there isno law on the subject in the country. The seminar on South Asian Diaspora and Emerging LegalChallenges organised by South Asian University also discusseda draft bill on ‘parential abductions’ which the governmentplans to bring in the near future. There is also a Hague Convention on inter-countryparental abductions to which India is not a signatory. Therewere suggestions that the bill be brought and the conventionbe signed at the earliest. A bill proposing a complete ban on commercial surrogacyand allowing only legally wedded Indian couples to opt forchildren through it was approved by the government last monthto check unethical practices. The Union Cabinet gave its nod to the introduction of theSurrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016 in Parliament, seeking a baron unmarried couples, single parents, live-in partners andhomosexuals from opting for surrogacy. PTI NAB IKA RGIKA