From Our Bureau
NEW DELHI: The Centre on Wednesday informed Delhi High Court that a 14-year old has been admitted to AIIMS for termination of pregnancy at 16 weeks following consensual sex between the teenagers.
The matter will be heard on January 23. Justice Pratibha M Singh was informed by the Centre’s counsel that as per the medical board, the girl was administered the medicine for abortion. The counsel also place the report of the medical board before the bench.
The teenager had approached the High Court through her mother seeking medical termination as she is a minor and unmarried. The pregnancy resulted from the consensual sexual activity between the minor girl and a minor boy, both having relationship.
The mother of the girl moved a petition seeking termination of pregnancy without informing the matter to the local police, which is mandatory under the POCSO Act, since it would bring social stigma, harassment not only to the minor but to the entire family.
The petition said the girl did not want to continue the preghancy as she is not prepared mentally and physically to raise a child.
It is submitted that the MTP Act permits termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks if a registered medical practitioner finds its continuation would cause risk to woman’s life as also her physical and mental health.
The petition also referred to a recent Supreme Court judgment, exempting the registered medical practitioner from reporting the pregnancy of the minor to police if arisen out of consensual sexual activity as required under Section 19 of the POCSO Act.
Even afer the Supreme Court’s direction, the doctors are not providing their services to the minors due to the criminal proceedings against them.
