New Delhi
The Supreme Court has ruled that no court can compel a woman—especially a minor—to carry a pregnancy against her wishes, stressing that the pregnant person’s choice and welfare must take priority.
The observation came while hearing a petition filed by a 15-year-old seeking permission to terminate her seven-month pregnancy. The bench of Justices B.V. Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan noted that forcing an unwanted pregnancy can severely affect a minor’s mental health, education and overall future.
The court referred to the right to personal liberty and privacy under Article 21, stating that every woman has the right to make decisions about her body and reproduction. It said compelling someone to continue an unwanted pregnancy would amount to an infringement of fundamental rights and could cause irreparable mental distress and physical harm.
The judges also cautioned that denying relief in such cases could push people toward unsafe, clandestine abortion facilities, increasing risks to the pregnant person’s life. In this case, noting that the minor had allegedly attempted suicide twice, the court permitted termination of the 28-week pregnancy with the cooperation of appropriate medical professionals.
