Chhattisgarh High Court: In a petition filed by a seventeen-year-old petitioner (‘victim’) through her mother, seeking to terminate the ongoing pregnancy of the minor victim, Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi, J., after considering that the victim’s father was no more and mother was said to be a housewife, stated that it could be supposed that she belonged to poor financial strata. In such circumstances, if the victim was permitted to undergo entire process of pregnancy, then it could lead to great physical, mental and psychological effect, not only on the victim, but also so far as the foetus was concerned.
The Court stated that the victim of rape herself carries stigma in her life. If she was not permitted to terminate her pregnancy, which was the result of rape, then it would be against her liberty and right to decide regarding her pregnancy. Thus, the Court allowed the victim to terminate her pregnancy.
Background
Since the minor victim, in the present case, was sexually exploited by the accused, the FIR was registered against the accused. The minor victim was medically examined by police, in which, she was reported “positive” for pregnancy. Due to aforesaid sexual exploitation, the victim had conceived pregnancy of about 20 week and 4 days, but she did not want to carry the pregnancy.
It was further submitted that minor victim was unmarried, her father had died, and her mother was housewife. Further the pregnancy of child might be detrimental to the victim, therefore, she did not want to carry on pregnancy and deliver child. Thus, the present petition was filed seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy.
The present Court vide order dated 05-12-2024, directed the Chief Medical and Health Officer, Balodabazar-Bhatapara to submit report with opinion regarding medical termination of pregnancy of victim. The report stated that the victim was about 17 years of age, and she was carrying pregnancy of 20 week and 4 days. Further, the victim was suffering from severe anaemia and sickle cell, therefore, after anaemia correction, there was no contradiction for termination of pregnancy of the victim.
Analysis, Law, and Decision
The Court stated that it was not that the termination of pregnancy was not impermissible at all, rather it was permissible in the given circumstances as provided under Section of the . In the present case, the minor victim was only 17 years, she was victim of rape, and she did not want to carry on her pregnancy. The Court observed that the team of doctors had also submitted report to the effect that continuation of teenage pregnancy with severe anaemia could have significant physical, emotional, social and economic consequences to the minor victim.
The Court stated that it could not be denied that continuation of pregnancy could lead to complication at a later stage on both, the victim’s physical condition and the psychological and mental condition. Although, the victim was suffering from severe anaemia, but team of doctors opined that she might be physically fit after correction of anaemia.
Further, after considering that the victim’s father was no more and mother was said to be a housewife, the Court stated that it could be supposed that she belonged to poor financial strata. In such circumstances, if the victim was permitted to undergo entire process of pregnancy, then it could lead to great physical, mental and psychological effect, not only on the victim, but also so far as the foetus was concerned. The Court stated that the victim of rape herself carries stigma in her life. If she was not permitted to terminate her pregnancy, which was the result of rape, then it would be against her liberty and right to decide regarding her pregnancy.
Thus, the Court allowed the present petition and permitted the victim to approach Chief Medical and Health Officer, Balodabazar, along with her mother, who in turn, should ensure that the victim’s pregnancy would be terminated after completing all the other requisite formalities and provide proper medical facilities along with correction of anaemia to the victim. The Court further directed Chief Medical and Health Officer, Balodabazar, to issue instructions to Pt. Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Medical College, Raipur and Dr. Bheemrao Ambedkar Memorial Hospital, Raipur for terminating pregnancy of the victim under the supervision of at-least two registered medical practitioners including Specialist Doctors.
[ABC v. State of Chhattisgarh, WPC No. 6041 of 2024, decided on 10-12-2024]
Advocates who appeared in this case:
For the Petitioner: Devashish Tiwari, Advocate.
For the Respondents: Satish Gupta, Govt. Advocate.
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