Parents to pregnant 10-year-old rape survivor before delivery: You have stone in stomach

The 10-year-old Chandigarh rape survivor who delivered a baby girl on Thursday at Government Medical College and Hospital, Chandigarh was unaware of the fact that she has given birth to a child.

Her parents told her that she was being operated for a stone in her stomach. Victim's father has also requested the authorities to put up the new born for adoption.

The girl was allegedly raped by her maternal uncle repeatedly for several months and the horrific incident came to light last month when her parents took her to a hospital on complaints of a stomach ache.

When diagnosed, doctors found out that she is over 30 months pregnant. The treatment expenses of the rape victim are being borne by the Chandigarh Administration.

On July 28, the Supreme Court had rejected a plea seeking its nod for terminating the 32-week-old pregnancy of the rape survivor after taking note of a medical report that abortion was neither good for the girl nor for the fetus.

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A bench comprising Chief Justice J S Khehar and Justice D Y Chandrachud took note of the report of the medical board set up by Post-Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh to examine the rape survivor and the consequences if the termination of pregnancy was allowed.

The bench had asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar, to consider its suggestion to set up a permanent medical board in every state to take a prompt decision on prospects of early abortion in view of the fact that such cases are reaching the apex court in a big way.

The PIL was filed after a Chandigarh district court on July 18 refused to let the girl undergo the abortion.Courts allow medical termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and can make an exception if the fetus is genetically abnormal.

(With PTI inputs)