The Hindu : National : Gujarat High Court allows minor to terminate rape-pregnancy

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
ePaper | Mobile/PDA Version

National

National

Gujarat High Court allows minor to terminate rape-pregnancy

Manas Dasgupta

AHMEDABAD: The Gujarat High Court on Monday permitted a rape victim, a minor, to undergo medical termination of pregnancy at the government civil hospital in Surendranagar.

Setting aside the Dhrangadhra sessions court order which denied the 13-year-old permission, Justice Anant Dave said abortion for a rape victim was not barred under the law and was upheld by the Supreme Court also. Ordering the victim to carry the pregnancy to full term would result in physical and mental trauma, both because of her tender age and the circumstances that caused it.

A surgeon in the Surendranagar hospital, with two qualified gynaecologists, would conduct the medical termination of the pregnancy only if the girl was found fit at the time of operation, the High Court said. According to the medical reports produced earlier in the court, the girl was fit to undergo abortion.

Due care of the rape victim would be the responsibility of the hospital, the court said. It should also take post-operation care of the girl.

A resident of Dhrangadhra, the girl was raped repeatedly by a neighbour for over a year and she became pregnant. He was arrested on a complaint by the parents of the victim.

Printer friendly page
Send this article to Friends by E-Mail

National