Nod to rape survivor to abort pregnancy

SURAT: The Surat district and sessions court on Tuesday allowed a 17-year-old rape survivor to terminate her 21-week pregnancy.
According to cased details, the minor girl was abducted by accused Hiresh Chaudhary (21) four months ago from her house under Mahuva police station jurisdiction. Her mother had lodged a missing complaint with the police then.
During investigation, police traced Chaudhary and nabbed him on December 28 last month and rescued the minor girl.One medical examination it was found that the girl was 19 weeks pregnant. Chaudhary, a casual labourer, was arrested and booked under various sections of the Indian Penal Code and The Protection of Children from Sexual Offence (POCSO) Act.
On knowing about the girl’s pregnancy, her mother filed a plea before the Surat court seeking permission to terminate her daughter’s pregnancy on the grounds that the unborn child would be considered as ‘illegitimate’ by the society and would create a problem for the minor in the future. The girl’s mother further mentioned that her daughter herself was a child and won’t be able to taken care of the baby.
Bardoli circle inspector D K Chaudhary produced the report of the penal of doctors who examined the girl’s pregnancy before the court. Doctors too stated that if the girl’s pregnancy continues, she is likely to face physical as well as mental trauma. The doctors, therefore, recommended termination of pregnancy.
Based on the doctor’s report court allowed termination of pregnancy and order the gynaecology department of the New Civil Hospital in Surat to proceed with consent from the girl’s parents.
Court also ordered the investigating officer to take samples from the foetus for DNA matching with that of the accused.
“After the termination of the pregnancy, the medical papers and DNA reports should be submitted. The investigating officer is also directed to submit the report of the victim’s mental and physical health to the court,” the court ordered.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)