20-Yr-Old Unmarried Girl Seeks Permission to Abort 29-Week Pregnancy; SC Asks AIIMS to Respond

New Delhi: A 20-year-old unmarried girl approached the Supreme Court urging permission to terminate her 29-week-old pregnancy. On Thursday the Supreme Court directed the AIIMS, Delhi to constitute a medical team to assess whether a 29-week-old foetus can be aborted or not.

The petitioner woman claimed that she had taken some pills from the local pharmacist who claimed it would cause an abortion. But she did not know that her pregnancy had not been terminated by the pills. She came to know about the growing foetus in her womb in the 28th week when she consulted a doctor after feeling unwell.

Her petition sought permission for abortion in such an advanced state of pregnancy as well as directions to regulate the role of pharmacists.

“While the issues of law raised by the petitioner will be heard in due course, we direct that the petitioner may be examined by a team of doctors at AIIMS. We request the medical director AIIMS to constitute a medical team preferably tomorrow to assess whether the termination of the pregnancy can take place without danger to the life and safety of the petitioner,” Chief Justice of India Dhananjaya Y. Chandrachud said.