SC: Child In Womb Has Fundamental Right To Live

The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to entertain a petition from a 20-year-old unmarried woman seeking termination of her pregnancy, which had exceeded 27 weeks. The foetus in the womb also possesses a fundamental right to life, the bench said.

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A bench of Justice B R Gavai along with Justices SVN Bhatti and Sandeep Mehta issued this ruling while hearing the woman's plea challenging the Delhi High Court's decision on May 3, which denied her request for termination.

"We cannot issue any directive contradictory to the statute," the bench informed the woman's counsel. "The child in the womb also holds a fundamental right to live. What is your response to that?" the bench inquired.