Ranchi, Dec. 12: Though the Supreme Court has banned the sex determination tests, would-be parents are in no mood to heed to the verdict.

Gynaecologists in the capital said about 90 per cent families want to know the sex of the child prior to its birth.

The Centre had enforced the Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques Determination (PNDT) Act on June 1, 1996, to prevent the disclosure of the sex of the foetus using pre-natal diagnostic techniques.

Besides, on May 4, 2001, the Supreme Court has directed the central and the state government to ensure the implementation of PNDT Act.

A senior city-based gynaecologists Usha Rani told The Telegraph that male child is still in demand.

Pre-natal sex determination and abortion of female foetus threaten to skew up the sex ratio. According to gynaecologists, women often opt for sex determination tests and prefer abortion even after having a son.

The sex-ratio of Jharkhand is 947:1000 and in coming years it is going to increase and the figure would be alarming. In Dhanbad, the sex ratio is 850:1000.

Usha Rani said it is the duty of the doctor to make patients aware of the ill-effects of the tests as it damages the demographical balance.

?The non-registered ultrasound clinics in the state capital are on rise. We are not able to convince the patients as to why they are going for the sex determination tests?, she said.

Civil surgeon Asrita Kujur said a notice has been forwarded to all the ultra-sound clinics to stop the sex determination.

?We have registered 80 ultrasound clinics in the state capital. We are also going for the surprise checking to all the clinics and if any body is found guilty, we have decided to undertake an inquiry,? he said.

Usha Rani said most pregnant women keep asking the doctor about the sex of the baby. Sex determination is directly responsible for high incidence of female feticide.