The Supreme Court on Monday granted liberty to an alleged rape survivor to terminate her 24-week-old abnormal foetus. The apex court today considered the report of Mumbai hospital medical board saying that the continuance of pregnancy would gravely endanger the mother's life. She said the foetus has abnormalities and will cause mental distress to the mother and challenged the constitutional validity of section 3(2) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act prescribing a ceiling of 20 weeks. The alleged rape survivor had also challenged the constitutional validity of the provisions of the abortion law which prohibits termination of pregnancy after 20 weeks even if there is a fatal risk to the mother and the foetus. Her plea contended that the ceiling is unreasonable, arbitrary, harsh, discriminatory and violative of the right to life and equality.

Source: dna July 25, 2016 09:35 UTC