Indian Court Blocks Abortion for Pregnant Child Rape Victim

© AP Photo / Mahesh Kumar A.Indian schoolchildren participate in an awareness campaign rally to mark World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Violence against Children, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014
Indian schoolchildren participate in an awareness campaign rally to mark World Day for the Prevention of Child Abuse and Violence against Children, in Hyderabad, India, Wednesday, Nov. 19, 2014 - Sputnik International
Subscribe
India's Supreme Court has dismissed a plea filed by a 10-year-old rape victim who wanted the court's approval to abort her 32-week-old pregnancy. The girl was raped by her uncle at home and the pregnancy was discovered two weeks ago.

New Delhi (Sputnik)-The court has rejected the plea based on a medical report which said the termination of the pregnancy would be too risky for the girl. On Monday, the court had asked a team of doctors to evaluate whether the girl could undergo an abortion safely.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, left, and Chinese President Xi Jinping. (File) - Sputnik International
India Seeks Closer Partnership With China Under Astana Consensus - Indian FM

A bench comprising Chief Justice of India JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud asked the Indian government to set up a permanent medical board in every state to take a decision on the prospects of early abortion. Indian law allows abortion of fetuses up to 20 weeks under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act if doctors suggest a situation where the life of the mother is in danger.

Earlier, lawyer Alakh Alok Srivastava had filed a public interest petition wherein he asked for permission to abort due to the young age of the girl. "Medical experts have categorically opined that if the 10-year-old is forced to give birth, either through normal delivery or even through caesarean-section, it may be fatal to the life of the rape survivor as well as to her child," the petition said.

The girl from a poor family alleges she was raped several times in the past seven months by her uncle.

Newsfeed
0
To participate in the discussion
log in or register
loader
Chats
Заголовок открываемого материала