HC asks director health to probe delay in disposal of abortion plea

CHANDIGARH:The Punjab and Haryana high court on Tuesday directed the director (health services), Haryana, to probe delay in disposal of an application of a rape victim from Nuh who had sought termination of her pregnancy.

The HC bench of justice Gurvinder Singh Gill said the medical authorities were callous as the application was submitted on November 20, but no action was taken for terminating the pregnancy then.

The court took note of an August 2014 order issued to ensure that the rape victim who becomes pregnant does not lose time by applying from court to court. It was directed that general instructions be given by the director general of police to all the police stations, who register cases of rape and who come by information that the victim has become pregnant to render all assistance to secure appropriate medical opinions and also provide assistance for admission in government hospitals and render medical assistance as a measure of support to the traumatized victim. The court also directed director health services to take action against official who did not act in time.

The girl’s pregnancy, who family said is a minor, but police claimed in court that was of a 20 year age , had come to light on November 3 and the FIR was registered on November 9. On November 20, the family formally moved before the local medical authorities in Nuh to abort the child only to hear a no from them since the pregnancy had crossed 20 weeks time.

The high court has now directed the health authorities in Nuh to constitute a fresh panel to examine the girl afresh to give opinion as to whether there is any abnormality in the foetus or whether continuance of the pregnancy would pose danger to her life. The committee will take a decision to terminate the pregnancy.

Courts allow medical termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and can make an exception if the foetus is genetically abnormal.