Delhi HC’s order on widow’s plea to terminate pregnancy

The Delhi High Court reserved an order on a widow’s plea seeking permission to terminate her 27-week pregnancy. She is suffering from severe depression.

Justice Subramonium Prasad reserved the order for the next day after hearing from the petitioner’s counsel and a psychiatric evaluation.

Her counsel submitted forcing her to continue the pregnancy violates her privacy. The bench noted Supreme Court allows termination at this stage and her mental state has changed circumstances.

Earlier, a vacation bench called for a psychiatric report on if continuing the pregnancy would harm her health given her severe depression and suicidal thoughts.

The court was hearing a 27-week pregnant woman’s petition to terminate her pregnancy. After reviewing the AIIMS report, the bench ordered further psychiatric evaluation.

AIIMS reported evaluating the petitioner on December 28th. She was found suffering from severe depression and suicidal thoughts. Due to risks to herself and fetus, she was admitted to the psychiatry ward with family agreement.

Earlier, the court directed AIIMS to evaluate a 23-year-old widow seeking to terminate her pregnancy. The medical board did not recommend termination.

Her counsel submitted she faced mental trauma due to the pregnancy. Termination is allowed at an advanced stage. She cannot eat due to mental and physical trauma.

The 23-year-old woman’s husband died on October 9th. On December 22nd, the bench asked AIIMS to evaluate her condition to undergo termination.