The Supreme Court has directed the state of Haryana to submit the medical report in a sealed cover prepared by medical board on the feasibility of medical termination of more than 26-week pregnancy of a 14-year-old rape victim.
A bench of Chief Justice S.A. Bobde on March 2 had issued notice to the Centre and Haryana on a plea by the victim. She has sought court’s permission to medically terminate her 26-weeks-old pregnancy.
On Friday, the Haryana counsel submitted that that report is prepared. The bench, which also comprises Justices A.S. Bopanna and V. Ramasubramanian, directed him to submit the report in a sealed cover.
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On the previous hearing, the Apex Court had directed the medical board to submit its report within a week. The petitioner is a 14-year-old girl from Haryana stated that she was “cruelly raped” by her cousin, leading to the unwanted pregnancy. It has been alleged in the plea that the accused had taken nude photos of the victim and used to threaten her.
The petitioner has also taken the ground that as the accused was a direct blood relative and, therefore, the child could have mental and physical abnormalities and termination of pregnancy should be allowed. The matter would now be heard on Monday.