Bombay High Court: S.C. Gupte, J., allowed medical termination of 24 weeks pregnancy of 16 year old girl victim of rape & sexual abuse.
Petitioner had sought for medical termination of 23 weeks pregnancy of his daughter who is 16 years old and is a victim of rape and sexual abuse.
In respect of the offence of rape and sexual abuse, an FIR has been registered by the Petitioner with Paud Police Station, Pune.
Petitioner’s case proceeds on the footing that his daughter, being of a tender age of 16 years, is likely to suffer mental and physical trauma due to unwanted and dangerous pregnancy.
So also, it is submitted that continuation of pregnancy at this tender age of 16 years is likely to leave a maternal mortality and in the premises, permission of this court is sought for medical termination of pregnancy.
Court referred the case on 5th May, 2020 to a medical committee. Medical Board recommended termination of pregnancy in view of her history and teenage pregnancy carrying higher mental and physical morbidity and mortality.
Thus, Bench held that considering that despite being aware of the dangers of continuation of pregnancy as well as its termination, Petitioner and his daughter having expressed a keen desire before the Board to terminate the pregnancy and considering the specific opinion of the Medical Board, it is imperative to permit the medical termination of pregnancy.
Court also stated that in view of the same being a result of rape and sexual abuse, appropriate directions for preservation of tissue and blood sample of the fetus for carrying out requisite medical tests including DNA finger printing /mapping would have to be passed.
Bench further observed that, in case the child born is alive and the Petitioner and his daughter are not willing to or not in a position to take responsibility of such child, the State and its agencies will have to assume full responsibility for such child.[Pramod A. Solanke v. Dean of B.J. Govt. Medical College & Sasoon Hospital, 2020 SCC OnLine Bom 639 , decided on 08-05-2020]
