"There are hundreds of surrogates who have started their own small scale businesses like catering, beauty parlours, food joints and sewing coaching classes. They now own houses, their children study in English medium schools, their husbands have bought passenger rickshaws and their social status is markedly raised," the society stated.
The petitioner claims to be a representative body of several scientists, doctors and research experts engaged in the field of assistive reproduction for childless parents. It has protested against advocate Jayashree Wad's petition asking the court to strike down the 2013 notification.
Wad has contended that trading of human embryo under the Foreign Trade (Development and Regulations) Act is opposed to public policy, unethical and violates the principle of doctrine of reasonableness. "Embryo is a life in the miniature form and cannot be considered as goods," Wad has contended."
Commercial surrogacy is banned in most European countries, Australia, etc. India had allowed it to flourish with the result that many foreigners who could not have kids flocked to surrogacy clinics in India.
This is a very profitable venture for the clinics that charge whopping amounts but give a very small percentage to the surrogate mother. Of course, they would like the practice to continue so they can mint money and are thus lobbying to have SC's stay quashed.
Many of the foreigners are also known paedophiles who will often come with a friend of the opposite sex to pose as a couple.
So what do people here think about commercial surrogacy?
Anupamaa
