New Delhi: In a significant ruling reinforcing reproductive rights, the Supreme Court has permitted the medical termination of a 30-week pregnancy, holding that no woman can be compelled to continue an unwanted pregnancy.
A Bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan granted relief to an 18-year-old petitioner who had conceived when she was a minor and had consistently expressed her unwillingness to carry the pregnancy to term. The court set aside a previous High Court decision denying permission and directed that the procedure be carried out under expert medical supervision at a government hospital.
The judges underscored that reproductive autonomy forms an integral part of personal liberty and dignity. Observing that forcing continuation of pregnancy could cause severe mental and physical distress — particularly in cases involving minors — the court stressed that a woman’s choice must be given primacy.
Under India’s legal framework, termination of pregnancy is generally allowed up to 20 weeks, and up to 24 weeks in specific circumstances with the approval of a medical board. Cases beyond this limit typically require judicial intervention. The present order reflects the court’s willingness to consider individual circumstances, including psychological impact and social realities, while deciding late-term termination requests.
Legal observers view the ruling as another step in strengthening the recognition of reproductive choice as a component of the fundamental right to life and personal liberty, and one that may influence similar petitions in the future.
