SC allows 13-year-old Mumbai rape victim to abort 32-week foetus

The Supreme Court has allowed a 13-year-old rape victim from Mumbai to terminate her 32-week pregnancy.

“Considering the age of the petitioner ( a rape survivor), the trauma she has suffered because of sexual abuse, the agony she is going through and the opinion of the medical board favouring termination of pregnancy, the termination of pregnancy should be allowed,” the apex court order said.

A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra allowed the girl to abort after seeing her medical reports prepared by a Mumbai hospital.

According to Indian law, termination of pregnancy could be allowed on medical grounds after 20 weeks only.

Also Read | Mumbai: 12-year-old found 27-week pregnant, family to knock Supreme Court for permission to abort

The victim’s pregnancy came to light on August 9, when her parents took her to hospital for the treatment of obesity. She was allegedly raped by her father’s colleague.

The doctors have suggested that the abortion should take place after two weeks as they wanted foetus to grow further but the court ordered an immediate termination as the girl is going through severe trauma.

The abortion of the rape survivor will take place on Friday.

Earlier last month, a 10-year-old rape survivor, whose abortion plea was rejected by the Supreme Court on health grounds, delivered a baby girl through C-section. 

The Supreme Court had turned down the abortion plea of the rape survivor citing that she was 32 weeks pregnant and that it was too late for her to abort now

Also Read | 10-year-old rape survivor becomes mother, delivers a girl child