Supreme Court says mentally challenged women can continue pregnancy
Submitted by Ritika Verma on Wed, 07/22/2009 - 04:15
CJI's concern
The ruling by SC sets aside the Punjab and Haryana High Court ruling which had ordered medical termination of the girl’s pregnancy maintaining that she was unable to take care of herself and thus should be relieved of her pregnancy.
The chief justice, while pointing out the fact that the girl wanted to have a child and was also physically fit to give birth to a baby, asked,
"If somebody is ready to take care of the child, should the court order the termination of her pregnancy even then?”
Bedi's plea
However, it was after Counsel Tanu Bedi’s plea that SC finally gave a nod to the entire issue.
Final ruling
Now, the ruling by the apex court says that the girl can keep the pregnancy as it was in the advanced stage.
And ‘The National Trust for Mentally Retarded’ has been entrusted to take care of the child and the mother for the rest of their lives.
