Rape survivor should be told of her rights: SC

The Supreme Court said on Friday that a rape survivor, who becomes pregnant, should be told about her rights.

A bench of Chief Justice of India S A Bobde and Justice A S Bopanna is hearing a plea by a14-year-old girl, who is a rape survivor, seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy, which has crossed 20 weeks.

The girl’s petition has also sought the setting up of medical boards in states and union territories to decide on termination of pregnancies exceeding 20 weeks in case of rape.

The Supreme Court had sought a medical report on the girl and in the light of the medical report, the girl’s counsel V K Biju told the court that he will not press the prayer for termination of pregnancy. That is when he sought the intervention of the Apex Court to frame guidelines on appointment of medical boards in states and union territories to decide cases of unwanted pregnancies that have crossed 20 weeks.

Chief Justice Bobde told Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that setting up of such boards would be helpful.

Bhati said said she will file a detailed affidavit and added that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, which increases the time period for termination of pregnancy, is pending in Rajya Sabha.

“When rapes are not reported to you as a state, it’s different. But when it’s reported, you can follow up with whether she (the survivor) is pregnant and what are her legal rights. If a woman gets raped and pregnant, she must be told of options,” said Chief Justice Bobde.