The Union Cabinet had earlier approved the draft Bill with a strong critique against what it called “womb-renting” and commercial exploitation of surrogacy using poor women.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj who communicated the Union Cabinet’s decision to the media, said it had almost become a fashion with celebrities who were misusing it to make their wives avoid labour pain. Though Swaraj never mentioned them, the hint was obvious — Bollywood superstar Shah Rukh Khan and his wife Gauri famously had opted for surrogacy for their third child, AbRam.

Meanwhile, taking on the government, Congress spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi claimed that the draft Bill approved by the Modi Cabinet was not just stringent, but also “anti-liberal and anti-civil rights”. “Look at the punishment, the Bill provides for 10-year imprisonment for breaking any of the surrogacy clauses.”

“Why are they restricting surrogacy only to married couples? Surrogacy could be desired by widows, live-in partners and NRIs among others. They have delegated the drafting of this surrogacy bill perhaps to the surrogate RSS and VHP. This is a surrogate delegation to surrogate agencies,” Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi told reporters.

The Union Cabinet on Wednesday gave its approval for the introduction of Surrogacy (Regulation) Bill, 2016.

The Bill aims at prohibiting commercial surrogacy and allowing ethical surrogacy to needy infertile couples.

External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj had said that the bill was introduced as India emerged as a surrogacy hub for couples, and added that the government is aware of unethical practices.

Criticising the practice of commercial surrogacy, Swaraj said, “What started as a need, has now turned into a hobby.”

The Bill will be introduced during the winter session of Parliament.