Telangana HC permits 16-year-old rape survivor to terminate pregnancy

She was threatened and emotionally abused with dire consequences. Hence, she did not reveal the incident to anyone in her family.

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court on Tuesday passed an order permitting a 16-year-old to get her 26-week pregnancy terminated. The teenager was impregnated by a member of her extended family who also sexually exploited and emotionally abused the victim.   

She was threatened and emotionally abused with dire consequences. Hence, she did not reveal the incident to anyone in her family. The suspect  even threatened to kill her mother. Subsequently, when she was not keeping good health, she was taken for a medical check-up where she was diagnosed with foetus of 25 weeks. The family eventually approached the police who arrested him.

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Justice B Vijaysen Reddy was hearing the girl’s petition filed by the minor’s mother seeking a direction to the hospital to terminate her pregnancy.

“The dignity, self-respect, healthy living (mental or physical), etc. are facets of the right to life and personal liberty enshrined under Article 21 of the Constitution of India, which also include the right of a woman to make a choice of pregnancy and terminate the pregnancy, in case, where pregnancy is caused by rape or sexual abuse or for that matter unplanned pregnancy, subject to reasonable restrictions under law,” he said.

A medical board after examining the minor following the court instructions said she was fit for termination of pregnancy. 

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