SC allows ending 24-week pregnancy on woman’s plea

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday permitted the termination of a 24-week-old pregnancy after medical reports said the foetus has severe abnormalities and the same could gravely endanger the “mental and physical health” of the mother.

The bench comprising Justice Jagdish Singh Khehar and Justice Arun Mishra, after perusing the report of a medical board of KEM Hospital-Mumbai, said: “We direct the liberty to terminate the pregnancy by the pregnant mother in accordance with law.”

The report by a team of seven doctors came in pursuance to the court’s order on Friday to examine the pregnant mother and give its opinion on her plea seeking direction for the termination of the 24-week-old pregnancy.