Rape victim child denied abortion nod

TT, New Delhi, July 28: A 10-year-old alleged rape victim was today declined permission by the Supreme Court to abort her 32-week foetus after a medical board said it would be too risky.

With a growing number of alleged rape victims approaching the apex court for abortions beyond the legally permitted 20-week period, the court today asked the Centre to consider setting up permanent medical boards in all districts to deal with such cases.

The bench of Chief Justice J.S. Khehar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud told solicitor-general Ranjit Kumar: "A large number of such cases are coming to us. We are exercising our powers under Article 142. But we would like to know if there can be permanent medical boards in all districts."

Abortions are now allowed beyond 20 weeks only if there is an immediate danger to the mother's life. However, doctors are reluctant to carry out such abortions fearing legal hassles, which drives victims to courts.

The 10-year-old, who was allegedly raped repeatedly by her maternal uncle who has since been arrested, was declined permission for abortion by a trial court on July 18.  

"In view of the recommendations made by the medical board, we are satisfied it would necessarily be not in the interest of the girl child and live foetus, which is apparently said to be 32 weeks (old), to order abortion. We therefore decline the interim prayer," the Supreme Court said, adding that the girl should be given medical care.

The child could become one of the world's youngest mothers when she gives birth in a few weeks.

thenewsjournalph.com: Rape is not something you wish girls of any age would experience, it is a horrible experience that may result to negative physical and psychological impact. But what’s worse that getting raped alone? It is conceiving a child out of rape under the hands of one of your relatives and refused to have it aborted.

This is the ordeal a 10-year-old girl from India is facing right now. She found out about her pregnancy after constantly complaining about stomach aches to her mother. When they went to see a doctor, they found out that she was already 6 months pregnant. Apparently, the young girl has been repeatedly molested and abused by her uncle when he visits their home. Authorities immediately arrested the uncle and the parents seek to the Indian court to allow the doctors to perform an abortion to the poor girl.

Just like any other country, abortion is still not widely accepted and considered illegal in India but the government could be involved. The girl’s parents decided to seek the court’s approval of abortion as they think there will be a great psychological and physical implication if the girl continued her pregnancy at a very young age.

Delhi-based gynaecologist told Indian news site The Quint that an abortion must be done to the girl immediately.

Unfortunately, the courts have denied the girl to have a life-saving abortion despite the information supported by medical record.

According to BBC report, India has the largest number of child abuse and about 10,000 children were molested only in 2015 and most of the offenders are acquaintance or relatives of the victim.