Latest news with #2021
India Today
3 hours ago
- Health
- India Today
Court orders preservation of dead man's semen as mother seeks it for lineage
The Bombay High Court has directed a Mumbai-based fertility centre to preserve the frozen semen of a 21-year-old cancer patient who died earlier this year, after his mother approached the court seeking to use it to continue the family's mother, a resident of Santacruz in Mumbai, told the court that her son had been diagnosed with Ewing sarcoma — a rare form of bone and soft tissue cancer. Before starting chemotherapy, his oncologist advised the family to freeze his semen as the aggressive treatment could affect his to the mother's petition, the family was confident the young man would recover, but were unaware that he had independently signed a consent form instructing the fertility centre to destroy his semen if he did not survive. The family, which now comprises only women following the deaths of the father and uncle, said the son was the sole male heir. The 21-year-old passed away on February 16 this year. Amid their bereavement, the family requested the fertility centre to transfer the preserved semen to a facility in Gujarat for further medical advice. However, the centre refused without a legal directive, citing the man's signed with no other option, the mother wrote to various government offices but received no response. She then filed a petition in the Bombay High plea came up before Justice Manish Pitale, who observed that the matter raises significant questions about how semen or gametes should be handled after the donor's death under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, and its rules. "This becomes particularly significant in the present case, for the reason that the deceased, being the son of the petitioner, was unmarried at the time of his death," Justice Pitale for the Union of India, Advocate Yashodeep Deshmukh referred to a pre-ART Act judgement of the Delhi High Court, where frozen semen was handed over to the parents of a person. However, he pointed out that unlike that case, the young man here had explicitly opted for disposal of his samples after his court also took note that in the Delhi High Court judgement, directions had been issued to the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to consider framing appropriate laws or guidelines for posthumous sought time to verify whether any such guidelines now exist under the ART to ensure that the mother's plea does not become futile, the Bombay High Court ordered the fertility centre to preserve the frozen semen until the matter is decided.- EndsMust Watch
The Hindu
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Hindu
Bombay High Court orders fertility clinic to preserve deceased man's sperm in landmark ART Act case
In a case that could set a key precedent for posthumous reproductive rights in India, the Bombay High Court has directed the interim preservation of a deceased 21-year-old unmarried man's frozen semen sample. Justice Manish Pitale, presiding over a Single Bench, was hearing a petition filed by the man's mother and noted that the matter raised 'important questions' regarding the interpretation and application of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 (ART Act). The petitioner moved the High Court after the fertility clinic refused to release her son's semen. She is seeking access to the sample to continue the family lineage, arguing that her son was the sole legal heir. Justice Pitale observed, 'This petition gives rise to important questions with regard to the manner in which the semen/gamete of a person is to be preserved after death, under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 and the Rules framed thereunder. This becomes particularly significant in the present case, for the reason that the deceased, being the son of the petitioner, was unmarried at the time of his death.' The Court said that the petition requires detailed consideration but cautioned that if the semen is discarded during the pendency of the matter, the very purpose of the petition would be defeated. 'In view of the above, list for further consideration on July 30, 2025, High on Board. In the meanwhile, as an interim direction, the respondent No.2 (the clinic) is directed to ensure safe-keeping and storage of the frozen semen sample of the deceased, during the pendency of the present petition.' According to the mother, her son was diagnosed in 2023 with Ewing Sarcoma, a rare form of cancer affecting bones. Before beginning chemotherapy, his oncologist had advised him to freeze his semen due to the potential impact on fertility. He subsequently deposited his sample at a fertility clinic in Mumbai. The consent form, the mother claims, gave only two options: discard upon death or hand over to a spouse. The son signed it without consulting his family. As he died unmarried and without a will on February 16, 2025, the clinic refused to release the sample. The mother requested that it be transferred to a Gujarat-based clinic but was informed that a court order was needed. She first approached the Maharashtra Public Health Department in March but received no response. She then appealed to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on April 28. On May 6, her grievance was formally rejected, prompting her to approach the High Court. The petition notes that there are no surviving male members in the family, as the father and uncles had passed away young. It also cites a dying wish conveyed by the son to his aunt — that his sperm be used to create children who could look after his mother and family. The petition asserts that 'the sperm constitutes property' and that 'parents are the legal heirs of their deceased son.'
Yahoo
17 hours ago
- Business
- Yahoo
Bumble reduces workforce in company-wide restructuring effort. Does it have a future?
The dating app company Bumble, which launched in 2014, had separated itself from competitors by creating a platform where women initiate the conversation by sending the first message. This strays from competitors who allow either person to message first. Additionally, the app has Bumble BFF mode, where users can meet new friends, and Bumble Biz mode, where professionals can connect and share knowledge in an easygoing and more comfortable setting, according to Bumble. But in a securities filing report this week, Bumble announced it will be laying off 30% of its global workforce. Bumble was a privately owned entity until 2021, when it went public. Since then, it has struggled in the market, with its stock down more than 35% over the last year as of Wednesday, and nearly 92% since 2021, per The Associated Press. The report released by Bumble on Wednesday disclosed that the board had approved the proposed cuts as the company 'realigns its operating structure to optimize execution on its strategic priorities.' The report did not immediately disclose when the layoffs would be implemented, but the securities filing implied that the process would extend to the end of the year, with severance for impacted employees numbering anywhere between $13 million to $18 million. In a note sent to employees on Wednesday, Bumble CEO and founder Whitney Wolfe Herd wrote, 'This is a hard note to write — and I know it's a hard one to read. But I've always promised to lead with honesty, clarity, and care, even when it's difficult.' Wolfe Herd continued, 'Bumble, like the online dating industry itself, is at an inflection point. In recent months, we've been rebuilding — returning to what makes us trusted, unique, and deeply human. But intentional rebuilding requires hard decisions. Today, we are marking one of the most difficult: we are reducing the size of our team. This decision is not a reflection of any individual but rather where we are going as a company and what we are building for.' Wolfe Herd had just stepped back into her role as CEO in March, after leaving the company in January 2024, per AP. With these layoffs, the dating app developer will save an estimated $40 million annually, according to CNBC. CNN noted that Bumble's latest employee changes are 'the latest warning sign that younger users are growing frustrated and abandoning online dating, forcing companies like Bumble to search for new ways to innovate, including putting a stronger emphasis on using artificial intelligence to find matches.' Rival developer Match Group, responsible for dating apps Hinge and Tinder, is also struggling in the market. As of May, the company reduced its workforce by 13%, which affected 300 employees, per Fortune. Tinder is releasing new features to keep users engaged, such as the app's new 'Double Date' feature, which allows friends to have joint profiles, enabling users to match in pairs and plan double dates for their first in-person meeting, per Business Insider.
News18
a day ago
- Health
- News18
Mother Seeks Access To Dead Son's Semen; Bombay HC Orders Fertility Centre To Preserve Sample
Last Updated: According to the facility centre, the man had signed a consent form, stating that the sample should be discarded after his death The Bombay High Court has ordered a Mumbai-based fertility centre to preserve the frozen semen of an unmarried man who passed away earlier this year. The order came after the man's mother filed a petition seeking access to the sample to continue the family line. The mother approached the High Court after the fertility centre refused to release the semen. According to the fertility centre, the man had signed a consent form during his cancer treatment, stating that the sample should be discarded after his death. The semen had been frozen while he was undergoing chemotherapy. In an interim order issued on June 25, a bench led by Justice Manish Pitale observed that discarding the sample before hearing the petition would make the matter pointless. The court therefore asked the fertility centre to ensure the safe storage of the sample till the next hearing, scheduled for 30 July. 'In the meanwhile, as an interim direction, the fertility centre is directed to ensure safe-keeping and storage of the frozen sample of the deceased, during pendency of the petition," the court ordered. The court also said the case raises important questions about how a person's semen should be handled after death under the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. The mother argued that her son had agreed to discard the sample without discussing it with the family. After his death in February, she requested the centre to release the semen so it could be transferred to a Gujarat-based IVF clinic for further steps. However, the fertility centre refused and insisted she obtain legal permission under the new law, which regulates and monitors ART clinics and procedures to ensure ethical use and protect the rights of those involved. First Published: June 27, 2025, 18:17 IST
NDTV
a day ago
- Politics
- NDTV
UP Government Gives Rs 5 Lakh Aid To Accused Over Delay In Release From Jail
New Delhi: Following Supreme Court's reprimand, the UP government on Friday said a man, whose release from prison was delayed for about a month after getting bail, has been compensated with Rs 5 lakh. The man, booked under the provisions of the state's anti-conversion law, was granted bail by the top court on April 29 but released from Ghaziabad district jail only on June 24 -- indicating a delay of 28 days. On June 25, the top court while pulling up the state authorities over the delay, ordered a Rs 5 lakh compensation and asked UP government to report on compliance. On Friday, the state's counsel informed a bench of Justices K V Viswanathan and N Kotiswar Singh that the state had complied with the direction and paid the compensation. The man's counsel confirmed having received the amount. The top court granted bail to the accused on April 29 and subsequently on May 27, a trial court in Ghaziabad issued his release. On June 25, when the top court was informed about the man's release the previous day, it said liberty was a "very valuable and precious" right guaranteed under the Constitution. The man, the top court said, had lost his liberty for at least 28 days due to a "trivial non-issue". The bench also took strong exception over the delay on the ground that a sub-section of a provision of Uttar Pradesh Prohibition of Unlawful Conversion of Religion Act, 2021 was not mentioned in the bail order. It had passed the order on a plea by the accused seeking a modification of the April 29 order to specifically include clause (1) of section 5 of the 2021 Act. The bench then ordered an enquiry into the matter by the principal district and sessions judge, Ghaziabad. The enquiry's focus was directed to be on the reason behind the delay. On June 25, the state's counsel said the trial court's May 27 order mentioned all details except Sub-Section (1) of Section 5 of the Act and, therefore, a plea for correction was filed by the jail authorities on May 28. Since the application was not disposed of earlier, she said, the petitioner was not released. The lawyer further informed the bench that the man was released post the order's correction. The man was booked under Section 366 (kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her marriage etc) of the erstwhile IPC and Sections 3 and 5 (Prohibition of conversion from one religion to another religion by misrepresentation, force, fraud, undue influence, coercion, allurement) of the 2021 Act. On Friday, the bench posted the examination of the inquiry report on August 25.
