New Delhi: The Delhi High Court allowed a woman, suffering from depression, to terminate her 27-week foetus as continuation of pregnancy could affect her mental health and observed that the right to reproductive choice also includes the right not to procreate. The bench of Justice Subramaniam Prasad has given this order keeping in mind the mental condition of the woman. Justice Subramonium Prasad said the woman should be permitted to terminate her pregnancy because allowing her to continue with it can impair her mental stability. Earlier, the court had reserved the decision on January 3.
In the petition, it was stated that the woman was suffering from severe depression. Advocate Amit Mishra said that the petitioner was admitted to the hospital. The doctors told her to continue her pregnancy. It has been said in the petition that continuing the pregnancy is a violation of the woman's right to privacy.
During the hearing, the court had said that the Supreme Court had also permitted abortion in such circumstances. Earlier, on December 30, 2023, the vacation bench of the High Court had ordered the mental health department of AIIMS to conduct a check-up on the woman. AIIMS had said in its report that the woman was going through severe depression. She had symptoms of suicidal thoughts. After examining her mental condition, the woman was admitted to the psychiatry ward at AIIMS.