Rajasthan suspends 9 ART, surrogacy registrations of Jaipur hospital over sex-selection ad
Synopsis
A blue foetus in a newspaper ad has cost a Jaipur fertility chain nine registrations across six Rajasthan cities. The Rajasthan government's swift suspension of Neelkanth Fertility and Women Care Hospital's ART and surrogacy licences signals that colour-coded advertising — long a grey area — is now being treated as a prima facie sex-selection violation under the 2021 ART Act.
Key Takeaways
The Rajasthan government suspended nine ART and surrogacy registrations of Neelkanth Fertility and Women Care Hospital Private Limited on 25 August 2025 .
The trigger was a newspaper advertisement depicting a foetus in blue , viewed by authorities as prima facie promotion of sex selection — prohibited under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 .
Suspended facilities span six cities : Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, and Ajmer.
The suspension covers ART Clinic Level-1 and Level-2 units, one ART bank , and one surrogacy clinic .
The action takes immediate effect and remains in force until further government orders.
The Rajasthan government on 25 August 2025 suspended nine registration certificates of Neelkanth Fertility and Women Care Hospital Private Limited, a Jaipur-based private fertility chain, over alleged violations of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. The action — covering ART clinics, an ART bank, and a surrogacy clinic spread across six cities — takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders.
What Triggered the Action
The suspension was set in motion after a Jaipur edition of an English-language newspaper carried an advertisement for the hospital's IVF, fertility, and test-tube baby centre depicting a foetus in blue. Rajasthan Principal Secretary (Medical and Health) Gayatri Rathore said the department treated the depiction as a prima facie indication of sex-selection promotion, since the colour blue is conventionally associated with a male child. Sex selection and sex-selective ART procedures are explicitly prohibited under the 2021 Act.
Facilities Suspended Across Six Cities
The nine suspended registrations span facilities in Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, and Ajmer. They include ART Clinic Level-1 facilities in Bhilwara, Kota, Udaipur, Ajmer and Jodhpur; ART Clinic Level-2 facilities in the same five cities; two ART Clinic Level-2 units in Jaipur; one surrogacy clinic in Jaipur; and one ART bank in Jaipur. The breadth of the suspension effectively halts the hospital group's operations across Rajasthan.
What the Government Said
Rajasthan Medical and Health Minister Gajendra Singh Khimsar stated that the state government is ensuring strict compliance with prescribed standards and legal provisions in the delivery of health services. The department reiterated that any direct or indirect promotion of prohibited practices — including sex selection — will not be tolerated under any circumstances. Officials added that stringent action will continue against institutions found to be in violation of statutory provisions.
Regulatory and Ethical Context
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 was enacted to bring India's rapidly growing fertility industry under a structured legal framework, prohibiting sex selection and mandating registration of all ART clinics and banks. This is not the first time a fertility clinic in India has faced regulatory action over advertising that allegedly signals sex preference — a practice that critics argue exploits the country's persistent son-preference bias. Notably, the action comes amid a broader national push to enforce the Act's provisions, which only became fully operational after the corresponding rules were notified.
What Happens Next
The suspensions remain in force until further orders, meaning the hospital group cannot legally offer ART or surrogacy services at any of the nine registered facilities in the interim. The department has not yet indicated whether a show-cause notice has been issued or whether criminal proceedings under the Act are under consideration. The state government said it remains committed to ensuring safe, transparent, and high-quality reproductive healthcare while strengthening compliance across all institutions.
Point of View
But for the regulatory signal it sends: colour-coded imagery in fertility advertising is now enough to trigger immediate, multi-facility suspension. That is a notably aggressive interpretation of the ART Act, and one that the fertility industry across India will be watching closely. The broader concern is whether enforcement is consistent — action against one chain's ad, while the industry's wider marketing practices remain largely unscrutinised, risks looking selective. The real test of the 2021 Act's deterrent value is whether this suspension leads to a transparent inquiry with published findings, or quietly lapses once the news cycle moves on.
NationPress
25 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why were Neelkanth Fertility Hospital's registrations suspended?
The Rajasthan government suspended nine registrations because a newspaper advertisement for the hospital's IVF centre depicted a foetus in blue — a colour associated with male children — which authorities treated as prima facie promotion of sex selection. Sex selection is prohibited under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021.
How many facilities are affected and where are they located?
Nine registered facilities operated by Neelkanth Fertility and Women Care Hospital Private Limited have been suspended. They are spread across six cities: Jaipur, Bhilwara, Udaipur, Kota, Jodhpur, and Ajmer.
What does the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 say about sex selection?
The Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 explicitly prohibits sex selection and sex-selective ART procedures. It also mandates registration of all ART clinics and banks and sets out penalties for violations.
How long will the suspension last?
The suspension takes immediate effect and will remain in force until further orders from the Rajasthan government. No fixed timeline for reinstatement has been announced.
What action can the government take beyond suspension?
Beyond registration suspension, the ART (Regulation) Act, 2021 provides for further legal proceedings against violating institutions. The Rajasthan government has not yet specified whether a show-cause notice or criminal action is being pursued in this case.
