The Supreme Court on May 30 dismissed a plea challenging Union Health Ministry rules which prohibit donor gametes to couples opting for children through surrogacy.
Gametes are reproductive cells. In animals, the male gametes are sperms and female gamete is the ovum or egg cells.
On March 14, 2023, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare published General Statutory Rules (GSR) 179 (E) which said: (1) a couple undergoing surrogacy must have both gametes from the intending couple and donor gametes are not allowed (2) single women (widow/divorcee) undergoing surrogacy must use self eggs and donor sperms to avail surrogacy procedure.
