New Delhi, The Supreme Court has taken a strong stance on a plea by AIIMS to set aside its order allowing a 15-year-old girl to medically terminate her 30-week pregnancy. The top court has asked the Centre to consider amending the law to permit rape survivors to terminate unwanted pregnancies even beyond 20 weeks.
The court emphasized that when there is pregnancy due to rape, there should not be a time limit, and the law needs to be organic and in sync with evolving time.
A bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi said this is a case of child rape and the survivor will have a lifelong scar and trauma if termination is not allowed.
The top court asked AIIMS to counsel parents of the survivor over the issue and said the decision has to be of the person concerned.
Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati, appearing for AIIMS, mentioned the curative plea, and said the termination of pregnancy is not possible due to the child's severe deformities and the minor mother's lifelong health issues.
The top court said the decision on termination has to be the choice of the survivor and her parents, and AIIMS may help them take an informed decision.
