The Supreme Court has allowed a victim of rape to abort her abnormal foetus, on the grounds that her physical and mental health could be endangered if the pregnancy were to continue. The girl got this relief under Section 5 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971. While the decision is laudable, questions need to be asked whether laws like these are up to date with science and society. Why does a case like this have to reach the Supreme Court to get an order passed.
Rape victims undergo enough trauma dealing with the fact that they were raped. There is enough mental and even physical torture that goes with the territory. To have to beg and plead for an abortion in this regard simply adds to the torture. The MTP Act has provisions for abortions to be allowed after 20 weeks, if the foetus is harmful to the health of the mother. In draft MTP Act, 2014, there is a provision for it to be allowed in case of rape, but this is not the law, yet.
Amending the laws is the need of the hour. These new laws will empower women to make these tough choices.
