In a momentous ruling, the Supreme Court of India has granted permission for the medical termination of a 30-week pregnancy belonging to a 14-year-old rape survivor. This decision overturned a previous judgment by the Bombay High Court, which had denied the survivor’s request for an abortion.
Led by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud, the bench underscored the urgent need to address the situation for the young girl, whose identity remains undisclosed for legal reasons.
The court has directed Sion Hospital in Mumbai to assemble a team of medical professionals to conduct the procedure. Additionally, the court has ensured the safe transportation of the minor to the medical facility, with all expenses to be covered by the Maharashtra government.
The case reached the Supreme Court after the survivor’s mother challenged the Bombay High Court’s earlier ruling in 2023, which had rejected the termination request due to the pregnancy’s advanced stage.
According to the survivor’s mother, her daughter had gone missing in February 2023 and was later found pregnant in Rajasthan, as a result of sexual assault. Legal proceedings were initiated against the perpetrator under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, leading to the survivor’s reunion with her family.
On April 19, the Supreme Court ordered a comprehensive medical examination of the survivor to assess her physical and psychological condition regarding the termination of the pregnancy. A report was subsequently requested from Sion Hospital, confirming the examination conducted by a team of six doctors.
