The age restrictions in Section 21(g) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021, apply to individuals; however, a commissioning couple can access ART services if at least one spouse is eligible, regardless of the other spouse's age.

1. The affidavit-of-service filed by the petitioners be kept with the record.

2. The petitioners have filed the present writ application praying for a direction to the respondents to provide the petitioners with the assisted reproductive technology by way of vitro fertilization by self gametes/donated sperm in terms of the provisions of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021. The petitioners are the married couple and were blessed with a male child. But, unfortunately, on June 12, 2025 the male child passed away. After the death of their child, they have taken a decision to have the second child but it was not possible for the couple to conceive the second child and accordingly the petitioners went to the clinic for advise and after the clinical examination of the petitioners, the hospital authorities have come to know that the petitioners no. 1 is the husband is aged about 56 years and the petitioners no. 2 is aged about 44 years. Thus in terms of Section 21 (g) (ii), the petitioners no. 2 is over aged and thus the hospital authorities have advised the petitioners to obtain permission from the concerned authority to undergo assisted reproductive technology though IVF with ovum donation or an individual basis. As per the advice of the hospital, the petitioners have filed the present writ application.

3. This Court finds that before filing of the present writ application, the petitioners had been to the hospital wherein the hospital authorities have conducted clinical test of both the parties and after clinical examination, it was found that the petitioners no. 1 is over age in terms of Section 21 (g) (ii).

4. Learned counsel for the petitioners submits that the similar question arose before this Court in the case of Sanchita Ghosh & Anr. vs. Union of India & Ors. reported in 2024 SCC OnLine Cal 12155 wherein Section 21(g) of the Assisted Reproductive Technology (Regulation) Act, 2021 was taken into consideration. The co-ordinate Bench of this Court while considering the said Section has held as follows:

“31. Thus read, the bar available in Section 21(g), clauses (1) and (ii) shall be read as follows:-

i) If a commissioning couple approaches a clinic/bank for assisted reproductive technology services, no upper age limit restriction will be applicable to them unless both spouses of the commissioning couple are debarred respectively under sub-clauses (i) and (ii) of sub-Section (g) of Section 21 of the 2021 Act.

ii) In the event either of the couples qualify in respect of the age limits as stipulated in Section 21(g), he or she can approach the clinic to have assisted reproductive technology service, irrespective of the fact that he or she is the constituent of a commissioning couple and her spouse is not eligible age-wise.

iii) In the second scenario above, the commissioning couple, as a commissioning couple, shall be permitted to avail the facilities of assisted reproductive technology services, since there is no bar on a commissioning couple acting as such, to have such reproductive technology irrespective of any age bar.

iv) It is made clear that in the event one of the spouses is eligible under Section 21(g) and the other is not, it will be at the option of the clinic whether or not to use the gamete donated by the ineligible spouse in the process of assisted reproductive technology.

32. Only the above interpretation of Section 21 (g) and its sub-clauses, read harmoniously with the definition clause as stipulated in Section 2 of the 2021 Act, can give complete meaning and a wide expanse to the said Act, in consonance with