SC Delivers Split Verdict on Pregnancy Termination Case

A two-judge bench of the Supreme Court delivered a split verdict on the Centre’s plea to reconsider its October 9 order, which had granted permission to a married woman, a mother of two, to terminate her 26-week pregnancy.

The bench comprised of Justices Hima Kohli and B V Nagarathna, who had issued the October 9 order. Justice Kohli expressed her disinclination to permit the 27-year-old woman to terminate her pregnancy, while Justice Nagarathna rejected the Centre’s application for the recall of the previous order, asserting that the initial order had been well-considered.

On Monday, the Supreme Court had granted permission to the woman to proceed with the medical termination of her pregnancy, considering her depression and her inability to emotionally, financially, and mentally support a third child. The matter will now be placed before Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud to assign it to an appropriate bench for adjudication.