HC Allows Late-Term Abortion for Minor

The Delhi high court on Monday allowed a 16-year-old survivor of two separate sexual assaults to terminate her 26-week pregnancy, despite a contrary recommendation from medical experts at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi.

- Shruti Kakkar

NEW DELHI:

Calling the case "unfortunate," Justice Manoj Jain observed that the pregnancy, a result of sexual assault, had caused the girl "grave mental injury and serious mental trauma."

"The physical fitness of the minor is not in doubt, as this has been certified. However, AIIMS has expressed reservations about terminating the pregnancy. That said, it is not difficult for this court to understand the grave mental injury inflicted upon the minor. The situation is unfortunate," the court said.

The girl was allegedly assaulted twice by different men—once during Diwali last year and again in March.