Representational Image.
Ahmedabad:
A court here on Wednesday allowed termination of 15-week-old pregnancy of a mentally challenged woman holding that it is in the interest of the victim.
Additional sessions judge H J Joshi granted the application made by the state government, saying that "order is passed in the interest of the victim... as the victim will not suffer any mental or physical harm."
The woman, in her late 20s, was found on the street by the police two months ago. She was sent to a government-run mental health centre in Meghaninagar where the medical check-up revealed that she was pregnant.
The government first approached the magistrate's court seeking permission for termination of pregnancy, but the court rejected the application on the ground of jurisdiction.
The government then moved the sessions court. Public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt argued that the woman will not be able to fulfill responsibilities of motherhood, as she suffers from acute schizophrenia.
But advocate Anand Brahmbhatt, amicus curie in the case, said it was the state's responsibility to take care of the rights of the unborn child.
However, the superintendent of mental hospital where the woman is being treated too said in a report to the court that the pregnancy should be terminated.
Additional sessions judge H J Joshi granted the application made by the state government, saying that "order is passed in the interest of the victim... as the victim will not suffer any mental or physical harm."
The woman, in her late 20s, was found on the street by the police two months ago. She was sent to a government-run mental health centre in Meghaninagar where the medical check-up revealed that she was pregnant.
The government first approached the magistrate's court seeking permission for termination of pregnancy, but the court rejected the application on the ground of jurisdiction.
The government then moved the sessions court. Public prosecutor Sudhir Brahmbhatt argued that the woman will not be able to fulfill responsibilities of motherhood, as she suffers from acute schizophrenia.
But advocate Anand Brahmbhatt, amicus curie in the case, said it was the state's responsibility to take care of the rights of the unborn child.
However, the superintendent of mental hospital where the woman is being treated too said in a report to the court that the pregnancy should be terminated.
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