Perturbed at the significantly low sex ratio at birth recorded at 89 hospitals and diagnostic centres operating in Delhi as compared to the state average, the AAP government has issued show cause notices to these hospitals and diagnostic centres.

The average child sex ratio of Delhi is 896 females per 1000 males. However, after conducting a survey at these 89 centres and hospitals, the directorate of family welfare found out that theese hospitals had recorded a sex ratio that ranges from 285 females per 1000 males to 788 females per 1000 males, The Indian Express reported.

Terming the results of the survey as "alarming", health minister Satyendar Jain said that with one centre recording 300 females per 1000 males, it added to Delhi's already poor sex ratio.

"It cannot be a coincidence. Something is definitely wrong and thus we have sent notices," he further said, according to the Hindustan Times.

While refusing to divulge the names of the 89 hospitals and centres, Jain said his government will take action against those who are found to violate the pre-natal and pre-conception rules.

"We are not disclosing the names of the centres yet because only notices have been issued until now. We will take the next step after we receive their replies and go through them," he said.

He added that if these institutions can improve the child sex ratio, then the state average ratio will also improve.

Of the 89 centres, one hospital registered only 24 girls of the 64 deliveries performed, while another recorded 75 girl childs of the 186 deliveries, bringing the sex ratio to 403 females per 1000 males, said Jain.

The government has given 10 days' time to the centres to explain the skewed sex ratio, queries regarding the process of registrations they follow, facilities they offer for Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) and ultrasonography, and if they don't, where do they refer the patients for the same.

The show cause notice also asked the centres to answer if they have been registered with the Pre-natal Diagnostic Technique (PCPNDT), Pre-conception and nursing home cell of the government.

"The hospitals have to send their replies within 10 days. If proven guilty, apart from cancellation of licence, police cases will be registered against the medical institutions," Jain said.