Supreme Court allows minor who was raped to terminate pregnancy at 29 weeks
Noting the urgency of the situation on Monday, the court said that the 14-year-old victim’s welfare was of paramount importance.
The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a 14-year-old girl who was raped to medically terminate her 29-week pregnancy, reported PTI.
Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Amendment Rules, abortion is permitted up to 20 weeks of pregnancy. Women and minors who have been sexually assaulted, raped or impregnated through incest can abort the foetus at up to 24 weeks.
The plea on the minor’s behalf argued that she had found about her pregnancy very late, reported The Hindu.
The first information report in the case of the minor’s rape was registered on March 20, after the permissible 24-week limit. The accused has been booked under section 376 (rape) of the Indian Penal Code and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act.
“These are very, very exceptional cases where we have to protect the children as every passing hour is very crucial for her,” a bench led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud said on Monday, reported the Hindustan Times.
The bench had on Friday directed Mumbai’s Sion Hospital to immediately determine if the pregnancy could endanger the physical or mental health of the girl or the foetus. The hospital’s medical board on Monday said that the “continuation of pregnancy against the will of the minor may impact her physical and mental well-being”, reported The Hindu.
The board also said that the threat...
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