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Bombay HC: Single Women Can Terminate Pregnancies Over 20 Weeks
13 Oct
Summary
- Court directed to update forms for medical termination of pregnancies.
- Unmarried women are now eligible for termination between 20-24 weeks.
- The ruling ensures reproductive rights and bodily autonomy for single women.
In a significant ruling, the Bombay High Court has mandated changes to forms used for medical termination of pregnancies (MTP) for pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks. These updates will explicitly include single, unmarried women, aligning with a Supreme Court decision from 2022. The court's directive ensures that the MTP Rules, specifically Rule 3B, are interpreted to cover single women seeking to terminate pregnancies in this gestation period.
The High Court's decision was made while allowing a 22-year-old woman to terminate her pregnancy, which had progressed beyond 22 weeks. The woman, a student with a history of PCOS, sought the termination due to the adverse impact on her mental and emotional well-being and potential social stigma. Her petition highlighted that existing MTP Act and Rules did not explicitly permit single, unmarried women to terminate pregnancies beyond 20 weeks.
A medical board at J J Hospital found no congenital anomalies in the fetus but left the decision to the High Court. Psychiatric assessments confirmed the woman's fitness for the procedure, with her parents supporting her decision. The state's advocate did not object to the petition in light of the Supreme Court's prior ruling.
