Will not permit unmarried woman to terminate pregnancy at 23 weeks: Delhi HC


PTI, Jul 15, 2022, 1:46 PM IST

The Delhi High Court on Friday said it will not permit an unmarried woman to undergo medical termination of pregnancy at 23 weeks, saying it virtually amounts to killing the fetus.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Satish Chandra Sharma, while dealing with the petition by the woman to undergo the procedure, however, suggested that the petitioner be kept “somewhere safe” until she delivers the child who can subsequently be given up for adoption.

“We will ensure that the girl is kept somewhere safe and she can deliver and go. There is a big queue for adoption,” observed the bench also comprising Justice Subramonium Prasad.

“We will not permit you to kill that child. (We are) very sorry. This virtually amounts to killing (the fetus),” said the court as it noted that almost 24 out of 36 weeks of gestation were over.

Counsel for the petitioner said the woman, being unmarried, is in great mental agony and is not in a position to raise the child. The lawyer also said that the bar in law on medical termination of pregnancy for unmarried women was discriminatory.

The court said that it was not forcing the petitioner to raise the child and asked the lawyer to come back with instructions on its proposal in the post-lunch session.

“We are not forcing her to raise the child. We will ensure that you go to a good hospital. Your whereabouts will not be known to anyone. Deliver the baby, please come back,” said the court.

“You ask the client. Everything will be looked after by the government of India or the Delhi government or some good hospital… I am also offering to pay,” said the Chief Justice.

Udayavani is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel and stay updated with the latest news.

Top News

Ullal: Auto-rickshaw accident near Konaje claims driver’s life

Congress victory in bypolls not a clean chit to CM in MUDA case: R Ashoka

IPL 2025 | Got someone who can do captaincy job: Ricky Ponting on Shreyas Iyer

Bad timing: Fraudsters call senior Indore cop during press briefing to pull off ‘digital arrest’

Kangana says MVA lost in Maharashtra because it disrespected women

UP: Protest over Sambhal mosque survey turns violent; 3 killed, 20 cops among injured

Ranbir Kapoor says he would love to remake grandfather Raj Kapoor’s ‘Shree 420’

Related Articles More

No one has right to break law: BJP on Sambhal violence

Will review INDI alliance’s dismal performance in Maharashtra, says Tejashwi Yadav

Minor girl out with friend raped in MP forest; truck driver, associate held

Kangana says MVA lost in Maharashtra because it disrespected women

UP: Protest over Sambhal mosque survey turns violent; 3 killed, 20 cops among injured

MUST WATCH

Coconut Flower

Prakash Belawadi

Naxal Leader Vikram Gowda

Christmas Cake Fruit Mixing

DK Shivakumar


Latest Additions

No one has right to break law: BJP on Sambhal violence

Ullal: Auto-rickshaw accident near Konaje claims driver’s life

Congress victory in bypolls not a clean chit to CM in MUDA case: R Ashoka

IPL 2025 | Got someone who can do captaincy job: Ricky Ponting on Shreyas Iyer

Will review INDI alliance’s dismal performance in Maharashtra, says Tejashwi Yadav

Thanks for visiting Udayavani

You seem to have an Ad Blocker on.
To continue reading, please turn it off or whitelist Udayavani.