Bombay High Court rejects teen's plea for abortion

The Bombay High Court on Friday refused to grant permission to a 16-year-old minor seeking to abort her 27-week pregnancy.

A division bench of Justice Ranjit More and Justice Prakash D Naik turned down the petition filed by the father of the alleged rape victim girl. It relied on the report of KEM hospital which indicated that the foetus was in normal condition. It said "Even if we want to help you (victim) we cannot do anything because of the medical report."

The victim's father had sought permission to terminate her pregnancy on the grounds of her physical incapability to bear and deliver a child. It is said that the victim is suffering from anaemia. The report submitted by KEM hospital opined that the pregnancy is about 27 weeks by clinical and sonographic evaluation. If the pregnancy is terminated now after correction of anaemia as per the patient's and family's request, the baby has about 80 per cent chance of survival as per weight and about 52 to 75 per cent chance of survival as per gestational age.

As per Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971, it does not allow abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

According to the complaint registered by the girl's family with the Thane police in August this year, a local delivery boy raped and sexually assaulted her after promising marriage. He, however, later absconded.

(With agency inputs)