Bihar court orders abortion for rape victim

Acourt in Bihar has ordered hospital authorities to abort the 24-week-old foetus of a rape victim, to enable the girl to lead a dignified life.

The Patna High Court issued the order late on Wednesday night after the 17-year-old victim prayed to the court to allow her to terminate her “unwanted” pregnancy.

Acting on her appeal, Justice Dinesh Kumar Singh asked the All India Institute of Medical Science-Patna (AIIMS-P) director Dr P.K. Singh to conduct the medical procedure — taking all necessary precautions for her safety.

The court directed the hospital authorities to preserve the terminated foetus for DNA tests in connection with the trial in the rape case.

“We have admitted the patient and started the procedure for termination of her pregnancy,” Singh told the media yesterday.

Legal aid for victim

The court has also asked the legal services authorities to keep a watch on the condition of the patient after termination of her pregnancy and provide her financial aid if any.

Apart from this, an order has been issued to provide free legal aid to the victim during the trial of her case.

The court asked the authorities to ensure the presence of witnesses in the court on time during the trial of the case.

The girl, who stayed alone with her mother, had gone out for work in her village, in Saran district in August last year, when she was allegedly raped at knifepoint.

The accused also threatened her with dire consequences if she reported the matter to her family or the police. Eventually the case was registered with the police in October — more than two months later.

Last year in a similar case, the court had refused to grant permission for abortion to an HIV positive rape victim abandoned by her family.

Eventually she delivered a healthy baby girl at a government hospital in Patna.