HIV+ Rape Victim Approaches SC Seeking Permission To Abort Foetus

We are concerned with saving the life of a destitute woman, the bench said.

An HIV positive woman has approached the Supreme Court with a plea to permit her to abort her pregnancy.

Earlier the woman, who was sexually assaulted and as a result got pregnant, approached the Patna High Court seeking termination of pregnancy. After seeing the medical report, the high court came to hold that it would be unsafe to her life and there is compelling state's responsibility to keep the child alive.

Against this order, the lady approached the apex court.

Advocate Vrinda Grover, who appeared for the lady, told the bench comprising that she is willing to be examined by a medical board at AIIMS, New Delhi. The court has directed her examination be completed before May 6.

“We are concerned with saving a life of a destitute woman. As we are inclined to think that a woman, who has already become a destitute being sexually assaulted and suffering from a serious medical ailment, not to go through further sufferings. The quintessential purpose of life, be it a man or a woman, is the dignity of life and all efforts are to be made to sustain it,” the bench said while posting the case to May 8.