The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a 14-year-old rape survivor to undergo an abortion at nearly 30 weeks of pregnancy, underlining that continuing the pregnancy may harm the physical and mental health of the girl.
“These are very, very exceptional cases where we have to protect the children…every passing hour is very crucial for her,” said a bench led by Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud, directing for safe abortion of the girl.
The top court also directed the Dean of Lokmanya Tilak Hospital in Mumbai to set up a team of doctors for the abortion, and ruled that the State will bear all medical and transportation expenses for the procedure.
The apex court had earlier ordered her medical examination following her mother’s plea against the Bombay High Court’s decision refusing permission for abortion due to the pregnancy being at an advanced stage.
Under law, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP Act) allows the termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks on the advice of one doctor. If a pregnancy is 20-24 weeks, the right to seek abortion is determined by two registered medical practitioners as an exception, but only under certain categories.
