HC to hear minor girl's plea for termination of her 16-week pregnancy

NEW DELHI: A 14-year-old girl has knocked at the doors of the Delhi High Court through her mother wanting medical termination of her 16 weeks pregnancy as she is not prepared mentally and physically to raise the child.

The minor is an unmarried girl and she had conceived out of consensual sexual activity with a minor boy.

The court will hear the matter Wednesday.

The girl's mother has pushed the petition with the help of advocate Amit Mishra wanting pregnancy termination at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) without reporting it to the local police as it would bring social stigma, ostracisation and harassment not only to the minor but also for the entire family.

However, reporting the matter is mandatory to the local police under the POCSO Act.

According to the plea, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act allows for the termination of a pregnancy up to 20 weeks if the registered medical practitioner believes that the woman's life would be in grave danger or that her physical or mental health would suffer significantly as a result of carrying the pregnancy to term.

As per the ultrasound report of January 6, 2023, the pregnancy, in this case, is of 15 weeks and four days, the petition stated.

The plea also made reference to a recent Supreme Court decision that exempts registered medical professionals from Section 19 of the POCSO Act's requirement that they disclose a minor's pregnancy to the local police if it resulted from consenting sexual activity.