Bombay High Court permits a 26-year-old unmarried woman to terminate her 22-week pregnancy due to mental health concerns, highlighting evolving reproductive rights in India.
A 26-year-old unmarried woman was granted permission by the Bombay High Court to terminate her 22-week pregnancy due to concerns about her mental health. The pregnancy resulted from a consensual relationship where contraception failed.
The petitioner, a working professional, expressed that continuing the pregnancy would cause significant mental distress, especially given the social stigma associated with being an unwed mother.
A medical board appointed by the court concurred, stating that carrying the pregnancy to term could constitute a grave injury to the woman's mental health. The board's assessment highlighted the emotional and financial challenges the petitioner would face, as she lacked support from her family and was not financially stable.
Advocate Aditi Saxena, representing the petitioner, emphasized the psychological toll the situation would take on her client, noting the difficulty in carrying the pregnancy to full term under such circumstances.
The High Court, considering previous Supreme Court and High Court decisions, allowed the termination at a government-recognized medical facility. Additionally, the court issued a notice to the authorities seeking a response to the woman's plea challenging the constitutionality of Section 3(2)(b) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, which restricts termination of pregnancies beyond 20 weeks on grounds of risk to the life of the woman or the child.
This case underscores the evolving legal landscape regarding reproductive rights in India, highlighting the importance of considering a woman's mental health and autonomy in decisions related to pregnancy.
For more details, you can read the full article on Ichhori: An Unmarried Woman in Bombay is Permitted to End Her 22-Week Pregnancy Due to Mental Health.