SC issues notice to Centre, Maharashtra Govt. over validity of abortion laws

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday issued notice to Centre and Maharashtra Government over the validity of abortion laws in the country.  The Supreme Court on Thursday heard a plea challenging the validity of abortion laws in India after a petition was filed against the law which currently doesn't permit an abortion after twenty weeks of pregnancy. A woman in the 24th week of her pregnancy filed the plea and argued that current laws deny women's rights to abort in case of extraordinary medical complications. The petition said, "If the foetus has abnormalities, then it will cause mental distress to the mother and challenges constitution validity of section 3(2) of medical termination of pregnancy act 1971 prescribing a ceiling of 20 weeks". The petition argues that the ceiling is unreasonable, arbitrary, harsh, and discriminatory and it violates the right to life and equality. The petitioner has sought that the relevant section must be declared unconstitutional or read it thoroughly. The Maharashtra Government and Centre will have to respond to the notice by Friday.