New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday allowed a 24-week pregnant woman to terminate pregnancy in view of the risk to her health. Khehar granted the woman liberty to undergo abortion while taking into account recent medical reports supporting the same. The court was responding to a challenge to the current abortion law which restricts the time period for a woman to avail of abortion services at 20 weeks. According to the petitioner, forcing a woman to undergo an unwanted pregnancy would result in violation of her right to dignity and sexual and reproductive freedom as guaranteed under the Constitution. The petitioner, a 24-week pregnant woman, said that setting a ceiling of 20 weeks under provisions of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 was outdated and arbitrary in view of technological advancements and cases of medical complications.

Source: Mint July 25, 2016 10:30 UTC