Now Reading: MP High Court: Rape survivors can abort up to 24 weeks without court nod
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MP High Court: Rape survivors can abort up to 24 weeks without court nod
MP High Court: Rape survivors can abort up to 24 weeks without court nod
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that rape survivors do not need court approval to terminate pregnancies up to 24 weeks. The Indore bench, dismissing a petition by the father of…
The Story in Brief
The Madhya Pradesh High Court has ruled that rape survivors do not need court approval to terminate pregnancies up to 24 weeks. The Indore bench, dismissing a petition by the father of a 16-year-old rape survivor, cited a February 2025 judgment that said pregnancies up to 20 weeks may be ended by a single registered medical practitioner, and those between 20 and 24 weeks require two practitioners under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.
Justice Sandeep N Bhatt directed the state health commissioner to communicate the order to all hospitals, especially government facilities. The court noted that the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Rules, 2020 also bars hospitals from demanding legal requisitions before providing emergency care to child survivors, India Today reports.
The Indian Opinion
The court's clarity is welcome, but the gap between law and ground reality remains wide. Many hospitals still demand police reports or magistrate orders before treating rape survivors, especially minors. The real test will be whether the health department circulates this order promptly, and whether district hospitals actually comply. How many women will still be turned away next month?
Source: indiatoday.in
This story was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.
