New Delhi
The Delhi High Court has expressed ‘strong disapproval’ on the non-compliance of its directions by doctors and police on medical termination of pregnancy of victims of sexual assault and said such lapses by the authorities can adversely affect the physical well-being of minors.
Dealing with a case of a minor who got pregnant after being sexually assaulted and sought to undergo medical termination of her 25-week pregnancy, the high court passed certain guidelines and directions in January to ensure that precious time for medical termination of pregnancy of rape victims is not lost in the process of seeking a court’s directions for constituting a medical board and thereafter, issuance of orders for the process.
Justice Swarana Kanta Sharma said the directions were passed keeping in mind that every day, every hour, every minute of such pregnancy, which is a result of a sexual assault, is not only traumatic and affects the psychological health of a victim and her family, but is also critical for her physical health and welfare, in case the termination of pregnancy is to take place. On Friday, dealing with the case of a 16-year-old girl who got pregnant due to a sexual assault and approached the court seeking termination of her 25-week pregnancy, which is beyond the permissible limit of 24 weeks, the court unequivocally directed that in the future, such a lapse on the part of authorities will be treated seriously as it can adversely affect the physical well-being of the victim and each passing day poses a threat to the minor’s life and makes it difficult to medically terminate her pregnancy.
