HC permits 11 year old sexual assault survivor to terminate 30 week pregnancy

Mumbai, Oct 31: The Bombay High Court on Thursday permitted an 11-year-old sexual assault survivor to terminate her 30-week pregnancy.

A vacation bench of Justices Sharmila Deshmukh and Jitendra Jain said the minor shall undergo the procedure for termination on Thursday itself at the state-run J J hospital here.

The girl had moved HC through her father seeking permission to end the pregnancy.

Under the provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, the court’s permission is required to terminate a pregnancy beyond 20 weeks.

As per the plea, the girl is a survivor of sexual assault and a case has also been registered against an unknown person under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

Under the Constitution, the court said, it can permit medical termination of a pregnancy that exceeds the 20-week gestation period in contingencies as set out in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

“The petitioner is a minor girl who is a victim of sexual assault. Hence, the petitioner is permitted to undergo medical termination of pregnancy,” the court said.

The court directed for the blood and tissue samples of the fetus to be preserved for carrying out DNA or other tests that would be required during the trial of the criminal case.

The court added that if the baby is born alive then all medical facilities should be made available to save its life.

“If the child is born alive and the petitioner or her parents are not willing to or are not in a position to take responsibility of the child, the State government will assume full responsibility of the child,” it said. (PTI)

Hot this week

Pay hike of Assam ministers, MLAs likely as 3-member panel submits report

Full report likely by Oct 30 Guwahati Sept 25: There...

Meghalaya Biological Park Inaugurated After 25 Years: A New Chapter in Conservation and Education

Shillong, Nov 28: Though it took nearly 25 years...

ANSAM rejects Kuki’s separate administration demand, says bifurcation not acceptable

Guwahati, Sept 8: Rejecting the separate administration demand of...

Meghalaya man missing in Bangkok

Shillong, Jan 10: A 57-year-old Meghalaya resident, Mr. Treactchell...

Meghalaya’s historic fiber paves the way for eco-friendly products and sustainable livelihoods

By Roopak Goswami Shillong, Oct 25: From making earbuds to...

Meghalaya govt launches scholarship to promote academic excellence across state

Shillong, Aug 26: The Meghalaya government on Monday formally...

Meghalaya: Mendipathar must be linked with goods train services, says Tura MP

Shillong, Aug 26: Amidst protests against railway expansion in...

Empowering youth, farmers, rural entrepreneurs key to development: Meghalaya CM

Shillong, Aug 26: Meghalaya Chief Minister Conrad K Sangma...

Manipur: Internally displaced person found dead near relief camp

Imphal, Aug 26: A 46-year-old internally displaced person...

Thousands rally in Nagaland demanding justice for murdered woman

Dimapur, Aug 26: Thousands of people joined a peaceful...

439 Myanmarese held for crimes in Mizoram since 2020: Police

The highest arrest of foreign nationals was made in...

Assam deports 36 Bangladeshi nationals

Guwahati, Aug 26: As many as 36 Bangladeshi infiltrators...

Bhalla sworn in as Nagaland governor with additional charge

Kohima, Aug 26: Manipur Governor Ajay Kumar Bhalla was...
spot_img

Related Articles

Popular Categories