Daijiworld Media Network - Bengaluru (SP)

Bengaluru, Apr 12: The state high court (HC), on Monday April 11, refused to entertain the plea made by the parents of a rape victim for abortion of her pregnancy.

The single judge bench presided over by Justice A S Bopanna, when delivering this verdict, relied on the medical reports prepared by expert doctors of K C General Hospital and Vanivilasa Hospital when disposing off an appeal in this regard made by the girl's father and mother.

The mother of the victim hailing from southern side of the city said that her daughter was impregnated due to rape, and that the doctors were not agreeing to abort her pregnancy. She sought permission to abort the pregnancy, and requested for directions from HC to form a committee of experts towards this end.

As per the 1971 law on abortions, pregnancy that is not over 20 weeks can be aborted. But both the medical reports said that abortion is not possible in this case as the foetus is already 26 weeks old and body parts of the child have been formed. The reports also referred to provisions which permit abortion when the health of the mother does not permit continuance of pregnancy. They pointed out that the girl does not face any health complications which deter her from giving birth to the child.

The report also said that the affected girl, who is 15, had once aborted her pregnancy in the past, and that it was not advisable to go for abortion again.