Thursday, 08 December 2022 | PNS | NAINITAL
The Uttarakhand High Court has directed the Dehradun chief medical officer to form a medical board and permitted the immediate carrying out of medical termination of pregnancy on a 13-year-old pregnant girl. The court has directed that information in the matter should be presented on December 9. The girl in question in 25 weeks and four days pregnant while as per the rules abortion is not permitted after 24 weeks of pregnancy.
However, in special circumstances, as per orders passed by the Supreme Court and other High Courts, the Uttarakhand High Court has issued its order in this matter considering the health of the pregnant teenager. In the order passed by the single bench of Justice Sanjaya Kumar Mishra, the court has permiited the conditional abortion of the teenager in Dehradun. The father of the girl and others had filed a petition stating that some close relative had sexually exploited the girl due to which she became pregnant. They had sought permission to go for her abortion.
The petitioner had requested that necessary instructions be issued to the Dehradun chief medical officer and the Government Doon Medical Hospital (GDMC). The girl and her father were virtually present during the hearing. The court has also directed the GDMC head of gynaecology department to use her discretion in case of any danger.
