Rape survivor can say no to motherhood: Allahabad HC

PRAYAGRAJ: A sexual assault victim had a legal right in relation to her body, which included saying 'yes' or 'no' to being a mother, Allahabad HC has observed, allowing a plea by a 17-year-old rape survivor to medically terminate her pregnancy. A division bench of Justices Mahesh Chandra Tripathi and Prashant Kumar said Section 3(2) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act provides the right to a victim of sexual assault to medically terminate her pregnancy.

The petitioner was lured by the accused to elope with him. Her counsel alleged she was raped multiple times. The petitioner is 19 weeks pregnant.