SC allows 13-year-old rape survivor to abort 32-week-old pregnancy

The apex court asked the hospital authorities to conduct the termination of pregnancy preferably on September 8.

New Delhi: The Supreme Court Wednesday allowed a 13-year-old rape survivor to terminate her 32-week-old pregnancy.

A bench comprising chief justice Dipak Misra, and justices Amitava Roy and A.M. Khanwilkar granted permission for the abortion after perusing a medical report filed by the board of doctors of JJ hospital Mumbai, appointed by the court.

Solicitor general Ranjit Kumar, appearing for the Center, referred to the medical report and an earlier order passed by the apex court on a plea by another rape survivor whose pregnancy was at an advanced stage.

The apex court asked the hospital authorities to conduct the termination of pregnancy preferably on September 8. "The girl would be admitted a day before," it said.

The Mumbai-based rape survivor, a student of class seven, had sought permission to abort the fetus.

Section 3(2)(b) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act prohibits the abortion of a fetus after 20 weeks of pregnancy.

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