The Delhi High Court allows termination of pregnancy for a rape survivor, exceeding 30 weeks, citing right to dignity and autonomy.
The Delhi High Court has ruled that compelling a rape survivor to continue with a pregnancy resulting from the crime would seriously impair her right to live with dignity. The court made this observation while allowing a plea on behalf of a 15-year-old rape survivor seeking termination of her pregnancy, which had exceeded 30 weeks of gestation.
Under Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, termination of pregnancy beyond 20 weeks and up to 24 weeks is permissible for specified categories of women, subject to statutory requirements. The court termed it an unfortunate and distressing case.
Justice Madhu Jain said the fact that the pregnancy had crossed the statutory limit could not be viewed in isolation. The judge emphasized a woman's right in relation to her body necessarily included the right to decide whether or not she wished to become a mother.
Source:
Akashvani News
