Chandigarh:
A 20-year-old mentally challenged orphan became pregnant after she was raped at Chandigarh's Nari Niketan. She gave birth to a healthy child earlier this month.
NDTV: Who is she?
A: I am her mother.
NDTV: What is her name?
A: Her name is Pari. I will love her.
Her pregnancy was discovered in June, and it has since become a complicated legal situation. Her mental age is equivalent to that of an eight-year-old, hence her consent did not matter.
So the Chandigarh administration went to the High Court, asking permission to terminate the pregnancy.
The High Court agreed, but when the case went to the Supreme Court for consent, in a landmark judgement, it defended her right to motherhood and ordered the Chandigarh administration to act as guardian.
Soon, the mother and the baby will be shifted to a home for the mentally challenged. However, the doctors say they are still not sure if the mother can take good care of the baby.
"She seems to be taking good care and looking happy also. But whether her happiness will last or how long will she take care that we cannot say. After all, she is only a child," said Dr Anju Gulia, from Sector 32 Hospital in Chandigarh.
"We have to provide extra support to her. Facilities at Ashreya are sufficient and adequate," said Dr Raj Bhadhur, Director, Mentally Challenged Home and Sector 32 Hospital, Chandigarh.
The Chandigarh police have three workers of Nari Niketan in their custody who are suspected of raping the mother. The child's DNA samples have been taken to identify the biological father.