At the age of 10, carrying an eight-month old foetus, a rape victim in Chandigarh is staring at the prospect of giving birth to a child, saddled with the double mental agony of being sexually assaulted at a tender age and now, having to undergo a delivery that poses serious risk to her life.
On Friday, hope ended for the family of the girl after the Supreme Court denied permission to abort the 32-week old foetus. The minor, who is currently undergoing treatment at a Government Hospital in Chandigarh, was raped by her uncle earlier this year following which she became pregnant.
The Court relied on a medical opinion sent to it by a team of doctors from Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER) Chandigarh. Acting on a Court order passed on Monday, the doctors examined the girl and came to a unanimous conclusion that at this advanced stage of pregnancy it was too big a risk for the mother to abort the foetus.The bench of Chief Justice JS Khehar and Justice DY Chandrachud said, “We are satisfied that it is neither in the interest of the girl child nor of the live foetus, presently stated to be approximately 32 weeks, for abortion. We decline the prayer by the petitioner.”
The Board of doctors said that already, the girl is traumatized following the rape and the thought of bearing a child at this young age will cause further mental scars. On the other hand, her body is physically incapable to bear the pain of pregnancy and even a Caesarean surgery will be took risky a choice to undergo at this belated stage.Helpless at the victim’s plight, the Court asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar who was present in Court, “While the Bill to amend the MTP Act is pending, you (Centre) can think of constituting a permanent Medical Board in each state so that at the first stage itself such cases can be dealt with.”
The need was felt by the Court as the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act prohibits abortion of foetus beyond 20 weeks.