Delhi: The Supreme Court allowed the 14-year-old girl who survived the rape case to have an abortion. Supreme Court set aside Bombay High Court’s order banning abortion. The Supreme Court considered the case to be exceptional.
Under Indian law, court approval is required for abortions performed beyond 24 weeks of pregnancy. A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud observed that there are certain risks involved in undergoing late life abortion at this stage. But the medical board opined that giving birth to the baby would be a threat to the life of the mother.
On April 19, the Supreme Court had ordered Mumbai’s Sion Hospital to submit a report on the physical and psychological effects of abortion on girls. According to the court’s order, permission was given for the abortion on the basis of the hospital report.
The extraordinary decision of the Supreme Court is under Article 142 of the Constitution. The Supreme Court directed the dean of Lokmanya Tilak Municipal Medical College and General Hospital to perform the abortion.
