New Delhi. The Supreme Court on Friday allowed a 17-year-old minor girl to abort her 30-week pregnancy. The court said that no woman, especially a minor, can be forced to continue her pregnancy against her will.
A bench of Justice BV Nagarathna and Justice Ujjwal Bhuyan set aside the Bombay High Court order. The case before the court was that of a minor girl, who had become pregnant during a relationship with a neighborhood boy and had demanded that her pregnancy be terminated.
The court directed the hospital to abort the girl keeping precautions in mind. The report of the medical board had said that if the pregnancy is given full time then there is no danger to the life of the mother and the child. Despite this, the court said that the mother’s wishes and her right over her body are most important. If a woman, especially a minor, does not want to continue her pregnancy, the court cannot force her.
The court raised the question that when abortion can be allowed up to 24 weeks, then why not at 30 weeks. Many times it takes time for a woman to decide whether she wants to terminate the pregnancy or not. Justice Nagarathna said that if courts do not allow medical termination in such cases, women are forced to resort to illegal and unsafe methods. Will go to quacks which can be dangerous.
