Supreme Court allows 14-year-old rape survivor to terminate pregnancy
PTC Web Desk: In a notable decision, the Supreme Court on Monday granted approval for a 14-year-old rape survivor to terminate her 30-week pregnancy, overturning a previous ruling by the Bombay High Court. Citing this as an extraordinary circumstance, the court's decision was based on a comprehensive hospital report.
Indian law mandates court approval for abortions beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy. Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, leading the Bench, acknowledged the potential risks associated with an abortion at this stage. However, he said the medical board's evaluation concluded that the threat to the girl's life was not greater than that posed by continuing to full term.
In an urgent session last Friday, the Supreme Court directed the girl's medical evaluation at a hospital in Maharashtra to assess the potential physical and mental impacts of the abortion. Following the examination, the medical board at Sion hospital expressed a supportive stance towards the termination. Relying on this report, the court invoked Article 142 to grant permission for the procedure.
It's crucial to note that under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act 2021, termination is permissible up to 20 weeks with the opinion of a registered medical practitioner, and in certain circumstances, up to 24 weeks.
- With inputs from agencies
