'Minors need not reveal name for abortion'

To comply with SC judgment, Mardas HC tells TN to evolve process for pregnancy termination

- R SIVAKUMAR

DIRECTING the state government authorities to evolve a procedure for termination of pregnancy arising out of consensual sex involving minors in order to comply with the Supreme Court judgment on the issue, the Madras High Court said a minor girl's pregnancy can be terminated by a registered medical practitioner (RMP) without insisting on disclosure of her name.

A division bench of Justices N Anand Venkatesh and Sunder Mohan gave the direction while reviewing the cases filed under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.

The bench cited a Supreme Court judgment allowing termination of pregnancy arising out of consensual sex of a minor girl by an RMP without disclosing her name so that she can avoid approaching an unqualified doctor for termination with the intention of hushing up things to avert legal process.