20-Year Old Unmarried Woman Seeks To Terminate 29-Week Pregnancy; Supreme Court Asks AIIMS To Examine

A 20-year old unmarried woman approached the Supreme Court seeking permission to terminate 29-week pregnancy. The matter was mentioned on Thursday before Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud for urgent listing.

"She's a student. She has exams from 23rd", the counsel submitted.

A bench led by Chief Justice of India directed the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to constitute a committee tomorrow to assess if medical termination can take place without any threat to the life of petitioner. The bench will consider the matter next on January 23.

The bench also asked the Additional Solicitor General (ASG) to assist the court in the case. The registry was directed to communicate the order to AIIMS.

Last year, CJI Chandrachud had authored a landmark judgment upholding the right of unmarried women to seek termination of pregnancy above the age of 24-weeks.

"All women are entitled to safe and legal abortion", the judgment stated while holding that the distinction between unmarried woman and a married woman as per the MTP Rules is arbitrary.