Rajyasri Rao BBC Reporter in Delhi

An influential group of Indian doctors in the Indian capital, Delhi, has strongly criticised a recent government decision to ban the use of ultrasound tests by women under the age of 35.

The government is putting half of the country's female population under grave risk

Dr SCL Gupta, DMA president

The president of the Delhi Medical Association, Dr SCL Gupta, told the BBC that such a blanket ban on ultrasound tests only puts all women at even greater risk to their health than before.

The association is protesting against a recent cabinet amendment of a law controlling prenatal diagnostic techniques, intended to prevent female foeticide occasionally practised in several Indian states.

The amendment proposes that no women under the age of 35 can use such techniques, and includes ultrasound tests as one example of controlled general medical procedures.

The ban

"By including ultrasound tests under the ban, and making it punishable for all women until they are 35 to get one done, the government is putting half of the country's female population under grave risk," Dr Gupta said.

"Ultrasound tests have become a common and mandatory feature of medical practice to ascertain all sorts of complaints ranging from abdominal pains to ankle sprains.

"And when used on pregnant women as one of other related gynaecological tests, they only help to keep a close watch on the growth of the foetus and the health of the mother."

The doctor says the amendment is undoubtedly well-meaning, intended to help stop the continuing practice of female foeticide in some of the country's northern states.

Uneven ratio

According to the most recent census figures from the states of Haryana and Punjab, there are now fewer than 900 girls for every 1,000 boys in the age group 0-6, down from an average of about 955 in 1991.

But Dr Gupta says the government should in that case focus on gynaecological tests that are widely misused to ascertain the sex of the child, including amniocentesis, to help prevent the killing of infant girls.

The decision taken by the Indian cabinet last Friday needs to be signed by the president and then ratified by both houses of parliament within the next six months to become law.

But the Delhi Medical Association is hopeful its suggestions will be taken into account so that the law does more good than harm.