New Delhi, Feb 06 : The Supreme Court on Friday granted permission for the medical termination of a 30-week pregnancy of a girl who conceived as a minor, affirming that no court can force a woman, particularly a minor, to carry an unwanted pregnancy.
A Bench comprising Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan highlighted that the minor’s reproductive autonomy must be given due importance, especially as she had consistently expressed her unwillingness to continue the pregnancy.
The Court clarified that the case centered on the minor’s right to decide on her pregnancy, which arose under “unfortunate circumstances” due to a relationship. The Bench noted that the matter was not dependent on whether the relationship was consensual or a case of sexual assault.
“The court cannot compel any woman, much less a minor, to complete her pregnancy if she is otherwise not intending to do so,” the judgment observed.
Directing Mumbai’s JJ Hospital to carry out the procedure, the Court emphasized that all medical protocols and safeguards must be strictly followed. Justice Nagarathna acknowledged the moral and legal complexity, noting that while a birth brings life, the decisive factor in this case was the minor’s clear and unequivocal choice not to continue the pregnancy.
The judgment reinforces the principle that the right to make informed decisions about reproduction lies with the woman, even in late-stage pregnancies permitted under the law.