The district court, Tiruvannamalai recently directed the Government Tiruvannamalai Medical College and Hospital (GTMCH) to abort the foetus of a 14-year-old rape victim considering her age and health condition.
She was in her 14th week of pregnancy.
Principal District Judge G. Mahizhenthi had on September 15 directed the hospital authorities to abort the 14 week-old foetus under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. Following the direction, the hospital performed the abortion two days ago. The Child Welfare Committee’s (CWC) chairperson, Tiruvannamalai, had sought permission from the District Court for the abortion.
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Initially, a case was lodged in the All Women Police Station, Kancheepuram, as the accused belonged to the district.
Later, the case was transferred to AWPS, Cheyyar. The girl’s mother had taken her for a medical check up to a primary health centre where she was found to be pregnant.
From there, the doctors sent them to the District Child Protection Office, Tiruvannamalai and later, the CWC took up her case.
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“The Block Medical Officer felt that the girl was too young and underweight to carry on with the pregnancy. We sent her to GTMCH for a check up. After obtaining consent from the mother and the girl, we sought permission from the District Court for abortion,” an official of CWC said.
Usually, permission was not required to terminate pregnancies that are less than 20 weeks, he said, adding, “however, in this case, we had to consider that the girl was too young and stood the chance of developing pregnancy-related risks as she weighed only 35 kg. The minimum weight for a pregnant woman was 45 kg. We took into consideration the opinions of doctors, and approached the court keeping in mind the girl’s safety,” he said.
According to officials in the district court, following the CWC’s representation, the case was forwarded to a medical committee at GTMCH to analyse and give a report.
Recommendations
“The committee recommended termination of pregnancy. On the basis of this recommendation, the victim’s mother was examined and her consent was obtained. The judge passed the direction on the basis of a Supreme Court direction allowing a rape victim to terminate her 32-week-old pregnancy. The direction was given keeping in mind the welfare of the minor girl, her physical health and mental stress,” an official said.
The accused was absconding.
He has been booked under section 366 (abduction) of Indian Penal Code and under the Protection of Children Against Sexual Offences Act.