In an urgent hearing conducted during the Diwali vacation, the Gwalior Bench of the Madhya Pradesh High Court granted permission to a 14-year-old rape survivor to terminate her 26-week pregnancy. The court made a special arrangement to hear the matter despite the holiday, taking into account the medical urgency and the minor’s circumstances.
Justice Milind Ramesh Phadke directed the Dean of Kamalaraja Hospital and GR Medical College to immediately constitute a panel of senior and experienced doctors to carry out the procedure. The medical team was asked to complete the termination by the evening of the same day, following the court’s order.
Emphasising the need for prompt judicial intervention in such sensitive matters, the High Court observed that every day matters and postponing a decision, even by 24 hours, could adversely affect the survivor’s health. The court also laid down directions for trial courts dealing with similar requests, making it necessary to obtain a comprehensive medical board assessment before taking a decision. Such reports must specify the survivor’s medical condition, the stage of pregnancy and the possible risks associated with termination, enabling courts to decide these cases without unnecessary delays.