New Delhi : The Supreme Court on Saturday quashed Delhi High Court order that disallowed a 24-week pregnant woman from undergoing abortion as she was unmarried.
The woman had approached Supreme Court seeking to abort the pregnancy from her live-in relationship. A medical board constituted by AIMS Delhi had concluded that the foetus could be aborted without risk to the woman’s life.
The Bench led by Justice YV Chandrachud pointed out that after 2021 amendment, the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act use the word ‘partner’ instead of ‘husband’ in the explanation to Section 3 meaning the intent covers ‘unmarried women’ as well.
“Petitioner should not be denied the benefit merely on the ground that she is an unmarried woman,” the ruling read.
