SC allows 14-yr-old rape victim to abort 30 weeks pregnancy

• Supreme Court permits abortion for a 14-year-old rape survivor over 29 weeks pregnant
• Court noted that continuing the pregnancy may harm the physical and mental health of the girl
• Under MTP Act, abortions past 24 weeks are typically prohibited unless posing a severe threat to woman’s life

The Supreme Court granted permission on Monday for a 14-year-old rape survivor to undergo an abortion despite being over 29 weeks pregnant. Underlining that continuing the pregnancy might harm the physical and mental wellbeing of the girl. 

“These are very, very exceptional cases where we have to protect the children...every passing hour is very crucial for her,” said a bench led by Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y Chandrachud, directing for safe abortion of the minor.

In a special late Friday evening session, the bench, including Justice JB Pardiwala, instructed Mumbai’s Sion Hospital to assess promptly whether continuing the pregnancy posed risks to the girl's health or that of the foetus. The hospital was directed to provide its findings by Monday.

Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, abortions past 24 weeks are typically prohibited unless the pregnancy poses a severe threat to the woman’s life or involves substantial fetal abnormalities.