Supreme Court divided on married woman’s right to abort 26-week pregnancy

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CategoryPolity

Last Updated13/10/2023

Recently, A Division Bench of two women judges of the Supreme Court were split in their opinions about the decision of a married woman to abort her 26-week pregnancy
the Centre’s resolve to save the “unborn child.

Under the Act, a pregnancy may be terminated up to 20 weeks by a married woman in the case of failure of contraceptive method or device.
It allows unmarried women to also terminate a pregnancy for this reason.
Opinion of one Registered Medical Practitioner (RMP) for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation.
Opinion of two RMPs for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.
Opinion of the State-level medical board is essential for a pregnancy to be terminated after 24 weeks in case of substantial foetal abnormalities.
Increases the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women, including :
- survivors of rape
- victims of incest and other vulnerable women (differently abled women, minors, among others).
The “name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed”, except to a person authorised in any law that is currently in force.