HC ALLOWS TERMINATION OF MINOR RAPE VICTIM’S PREGNANCY

LUCKNOW : The Lucknow bench of the Allahabad high court has allowed the termination of pregnancy of a 14-year-old minor rape victim, noting that unwanted pregnancy was causing physical and mental trauma to the girl.

A division bench of Justice Ramesh Sinha and Justice Saroj Yadav on Tuesday (September 14) said: “The court allows the termination of pregnancy of the victim/petitioner subject to condition that Medical Board finds no risk to the life / health of the victim/petitioner.”

Advocate Nadeem Murtaza represented the victim in court.

The chief medical officer (Lakhimpur Kheri) has submitted a report to the court, informing that the victim was 20 weeks and three days’ pregnant. This is within the specified period for termination of pregnancy specified under section 3 of MTP Act, 1971.

“The report submitted by the Chief Medical Officer, Kheri depicts that victim is carrying a pregnancy of 20 Weeks and 3 Days. That is within the period limited by Section 3 of the Act of 1971,” observed the court.

“But keeping in mind the risk factor of life to the victim, the respondent no. 2 — Chief Medical Officer, Kheri is directed to constitute a Medical Board as prescribed in Section 3 of the Act of 1971 and get examined the feasibility of termination of pregnancy of the victim/petitioner within 24 hours of receipt of certified copy of this order and get ascertained the feasibility,” the court said.

“We also direct that identity of the petitioner/ victim shall not be disclosed. She will be referred as Km. ‘X’ in all the relevant documents,” ordered the court. When the court came to know that the victim’s father was not alive, it ordered the state government to take care of the medical needs of the girl.