Section 20 — Cancellation or suspension of registration.

20. Cancellation or suspension of registration.—(1) The Appropriate Authority may suo motu, or 

on complaint, issue a notice to the Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory or Genetic Clinic to 

show cause why its registration should not be suspended or cancelled for the reasons mentioned in the 

notice. 

(2) If, after giving a reasonable opportunity of being heard to the Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic 

Laboratory or Genetic Clinic and having regard to the advice of the Advisory Committee, the Appropriate 

Authority is satisfied that there has been a breach of the provisions of this Act or the rules, it may, without 

prejudice to any criminal action that it may take against such Centre, Laboratory or Clinic, suspend its 

registration for such period as it may think fit or cancel its registration, as the case may be. 

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in sub-sections (1) and (2), if the Appropriate Authority is of 

the opinion that it is necessary or expedient so to do in the public interest, it may, for reasons to be 

recorded in writing, suspend the registration of any Genetic Counselling Centre, Genetic Laboratory or 

Genetic Clinic without issuing any such notice referred to in sub-section (1). 

                                                           
1. Subs. by Act 14 of 2003, s. 17, for sub-section (1) (w.e.f. 14-2-2003). 



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