26-week pregnancy termination case: SC rejects plea of woman seeking abortion, here’s why
National desk: In a recent development, Supreme court has rejected the plea of woman seeking termination of 26-week pregnancy. A woman had sought termination of 26 weeks of pregnancy whereas the Centre has filed an application seeking a recalling of the top court’s order by which the woman’s petition had been allowed. In previous hearing, SC had earlier sought a second opinion from the AIIMS medical board on whether the over 26-week foetus is suffering from any abnormality.
Supreme Court rejected the plea of woman who sought termination of pregnancy at 26-week citing her medical conditions. Court in the judgement said that pregnancy can’t be terminated at this point because the foetus was healthy. Also, the AIIMS board didn’t find any sign of abnormality in the foetus.
The plea was heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud and also comprising Justices JB Pardiwala and Manoj Misa.
Bench also quoted that as per MTP act, the upper limit for the termination of pregnancy is 24 weeks for married woman. Bench said that “the length of the pregnancy has crossed 24 weeks and it is approximately 26 weeks and 5 days old. The medical termination of the pregnancy cannot be permitted in such situation.”
Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, the upper limit for the termination of pregnancy is 24 weeks for married women, special categories including survivors of rape, and other vulnerable women such as the differently-abled and minors.
