Chandrachud-Headed SC Bench Recalls Order That Allowed Teen Rape Survivor To Terminate Pregnancy

New Delhi: The Supreme Court has recalled its earlier order which allowed a 14-year-old rape survivor to terminate her pregnancy.

The top court on Monday held a chamber hearing with the victim’s mother and doctors of Mumbai’s Sion hospital, which was earlier directed to carry out the abortion.

The bench, headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) DY Chandrachud, recalled its Aprill 22 order as the parents agreed to wait for the full term of pregnancy — just a month away.

When the matter was taken up in open court earlier in the day, the hospital said that the victim’s mother was uncertain of going ahead with abortion. The matter was then heard in the chamber.

A week ago, the CJI-headed bench held that continuing the pregnancy may harm physical and mental health of the girl, and thereby allowed the teenaged rape survivor to undergo an abortion at over 29 weeks of pregnancy.

The teenager’s mother had moved Supreme Court after Bombay High Court rejected request for a medical termination of pregnancy on April 4.

Obviously she wasn’t convinced, and it ultimately led to a revised order.