AMN
The Supreme Court has refused to allow the termination of 32-week pregnancy of a 10-year old rape survivor, relying on a medical report that it would not be good for her or the foetus.
A bench, headed by Chief Justice JS Khehar, perused the report of a medical board set up by the Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGI), Chandigarh to examine the child.
The bench also asked Solicitor General Ranjit Kumar to convey its suggestion to the Centre that a permanent medical board be set up in each state to take prompt decisions in cases where women and girls seek nod for abortion.
Courts allow medical termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and can make an exception if the foetus is genetically abnormal.
In another case, the apex court yesterday allowed a woman to abort her 22-week-old foetus, suffering from complex neurological problem.
A medical board favoured termination of the pregnancy which was posing severe mental injury to the woman.