Supreme Court moved to terminate pregnancy of 10-year-old

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has been moved for terminating pregnancy of a 10-year-old child rape victim who is into her 26the week of pregnancy after being repeatedly raped by her own uncle in the Union territory of Chandigarh.

Taking plight on her condition, Alakh Alok Srivastava, an advocate, has sought apex court’s intervention after the doctors refused terminate the pregnancy. According to him, the doctors treating the girl are of the view that her pelvic bones are not fully developed due to her tender age and, therefore, tolerating a full-term pregnancy at this tender age is very risky.

According to the petition, the parents of the girl, who are very poor, had earlier approached the Chandigarh district court for permission to terminate the pregnancy but the trial court on July 18, dismissed their plea. Termination of pregnancy beyond the 20 weeks period is an offence in India, punishable with punishment ranging from three to seven years.

The petition quoted one Dr Umesh Jindal, a gynaecologist and a member of the “American Society for Reproductive Medicine” that the pregnancy of the said girl should be terminated in the peculiar facts of the instant case to save her life.

The petition urged the apex court to direct the Union ministry of health and other departments concerned to bring the said 10 year old rape survivor to New Delhi, get her thoroughly medically examined through a medical board preferably constituted from the doctors of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, for appropriate action.