Kerala HC Permits 10-Year-Old Minor Impregnated By Her Father To Terminate Pregnancy In 30 Weeks

The Court has also directed the state government and the hospital to provide all necessary medical assistance if the baby was born alive.

A silhouette of a girl | Credit: Pixabay

Chennai: The Kerala High Court on Thursday permitted a 10-year-old girl who is over 30 weeks pregnant to undergo termination of pregnancy. The girl was reportedly impregnated during a sexual assault by her father. 

According to a report on PTI, the Kerala HC permitted the girl to undergo medical termination of pregnancy at SAT Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram. The Court gave the judgment after a medical team formed to examine the victim said that a surgery could be performed to terminate the pregnancy. 

However, the medical board also said that there is an 80 per cent chance for the baby to survive. They also said that there were underlying risks due to neonatal morbidities and they may face medical complications with regards to the minor survivor.

Hence, the Court directed the state government and the hospital to provide all necessary medical assistance if the baby was born alive. 

Delivering the verdict, the court termed the pregnancy as "unfortunate' by taking note of the plight of the 10-year-old at such a tender age. 

The Court also came down heavily and said that society should be ashamed and humiliated if the torture done by the father is found to be true.

On Thursday, the court gave the verdict in the case filed by the survivor's mother who sought permission for the termination of pregnancy since the time limit provided by the law was over. Under the existing law, abortion could be performed only up to 24 weeks of pregnancy.