India, June 12 -- Decrying the deep-seated patriarchal preference for a male child and the "behind-the-curtains" prevalence of sex-selection practices, the Supreme Court on Thursday said strict enforcement of the Pre-Conception and Pre-Natal Diagnostic Techniques (PCPNDT) Act is needed till the time there is a change of mentality.

A bench of Justices Sanjay Karol and Prashant Kumar Mishra noted there were various schemes for the girl child, such as "Beti Bachao Beti Padhao, Janani Suraksha Yojana, Ladli Lakshmi Yojana", that are indicative of continued efforts to eradicate the systemic bias suffered by girls in an inherently patriarchal system.

It said much progress has been made, and yet, much is left to be desired.

"Consequently, the...