Ahmedabad: The Gujarat high court on Friday permitted a 16-year-old rape victim from Vatva to get her 22-week pregnancy terminated and directed the authorities at the Civil Hospital to carry out the medical termination of pregnancy after getting the victim’s consent.Justice M R Mengdey permitted the abortion to be carried out after the victim, through her father, filed a petition through advocate Zalak Suthar urging to allow abortion in the best interest of the victim, considering her physical health and the incident of rape causing grave injury to her mental health. After getting a medical opinion, the HC ordered the medical authorities to undertake necessary formalities after the victim gives proper authorisation. The HC also said that if the baby is alive at birth, the hospital shall ensure that the baby is offered the best medical treatment available so that it develops into a healthy child. The HC also directed the doctors to take the necessary tissue samples for DNA identification and to hand them over to the investigating officer, as an FIR under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (Pocso) Act provisions has been filed with Vatva police station.
