CJI says India’s abortion law is liberal, pro-choice and far ahead of other countries
1 year, 2 months ago

CJI says India’s abortion law is liberal, pro-choice and far ahead of other countries

The Hindu  

Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud on October 13 said India’s abortion law was liberal, pro-choice and far ahead of other countries while hearing the case of a married woman who wants to medically terminate her 26-week pregnancy. The remarks by Chief Justice Chandrachud was in reference to submissions led by Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that the provisions in the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act allowed women to opt for abortion even after the 24-week limit if a board of doctors agree that the continuation of pregnancy was a risk to her life or if a substantial anonymity was medically detected in the foetus. The woman’s counsel however submitted and produced medical prescriptions allegedly showing that she had been suffering from postpartum psychosis from October last year, shortly after her second pregnancy. The Bench asked the board to undertake an independent evaluation as to whether alternate medication “consistent with her pregnancy was available so as to neither jeopardise the well-being of the woman or the foetus”.

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History of this topic

Nikhil Datar: the gynaecologist fighting for women’s right to abortion
9 months, 2 weeks ago

Nikhil Datar: the gynaecologist fighting for women’s right to abortion

The Hindu  

Why are you whiling away your time doing all these things? Don’t you have patients?’ That’s what people tell Nikhil Datar, 54, the gynaecologist who began the battle that eventually pushed India to update its abortion law in 2021. “As a society, we need to collectively align behind a woman.” As the global debate around autonomy and reproductive health intensifies, …

Does India need to decriminalise abortion? | In Focus podcast
1 year, 1 month ago

Does India need to decriminalise abortion? | In Focus podcast

The Hindu  

Earlier this month, a married woman, who was 26 weeks pregnant, approached the Supreme Court, asking to be allowed to terminate her pregnancy. But subsequently, following a hospital report that said the foetus was viable and had a heartbeat, and a medical board report that said the pregnancy was not causing an immediate danger to the woman or foetus’s life, …

What does Supreme Court’s abortion verdict mean for reproductive justice in India?
1 year, 2 months ago

What does Supreme Court’s abortion verdict mean for reproductive justice in India?

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court this week rejected a woman’s plea for abortion. The woman — 26 weeks pregnant, married, with two children, and undergoing postpartum psychosis — requested termination because she was “physically, emotionally, mentally, financially and medically unable to carry, deliver or raise a child.” Denying her request, the three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud …

'Want us to tell doctors to stop fetal heart?' SC remark in abortion hearing
1 year, 2 months ago

'Want us to tell doctors to stop fetal heart?' SC remark in abortion hearing

Hindustan Times  

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday made strong observations while hearing the Centre's petition seeking revocation of its October 9 order that allowed a married woman to terminate her 26-week pregnancy. The case was referred to the CJI-led bench after a two-judge bench on Wednesday gave a split verdict on the Centre's petition for recall of its October 9 …

'Foetus Has Chance Of Being Born' : A Day After Allowing Abortion Of 26-Week Pregnancy, Supreme Court Asks AIIMS To Defer Procedure
1 year, 2 months ago

'Foetus Has Chance Of Being Born' : A Day After Allowing Abortion Of 26-Week Pregnancy, Supreme Court Asks AIIMS To Defer Procedure

Live Law  

In a turn of events, the Supreme Court today asked All India Institute of Medical Sciences to defer the medical termination of pregnancy for a 26-week pregnant married woman, who was permitted to proceed with the medical termination of her pregnancy just yesterday. Upon apprehension raised by the doctors at AIIMS that the foetus would have a viable chance of …

Male-centric medicine is affecting women’s health
1 year, 6 months ago

Male-centric medicine is affecting women’s health

The Hindu  

“If you were a young boy, I could have offered you a bouquet of medicines. Exactly three decades ago, the U.S. National Institutes of Health Revitalization Act of 1993 mandated the inclusion of “women and minorities” in clinical trials in a bid to reduce health disparities. Generic drugs, trials, mental health In India, the “pharmacy of the world”, the gender …

Care, Rights of Abortion Survivors
1 year, 9 months ago

Care, Rights of Abortion Survivors

Live Law  

The Indian Judiciary in accord to ascertain women’s rights or equality rights strives to locate the possibilityof abortion even after the gestation limit of 24 weeks under section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 2021. Even lately, while adjudicating a plea of abortion by an unmarried 20-year-old B.Tech student, the Supreme Court prospected the probability and had consulted …

Why India’s landmark abortion ruling could echo around the world
2 years, 2 months ago

Why India’s landmark abortion ruling could echo around the world

Al Jazeera  

On September 29, the Indian Supreme Court delivered a crucial decision which holds the promise of actually leading to the reproductive autonomy of Indian women, in particular through access to abortion. While the core issue before the court was whether unmarried women could seek an abortion under the law – the judges confirmed that they can – the decision also …

A decisive shift in the discourse on abortion rights
2 years, 2 months ago

A decisive shift in the discourse on abortion rights

The Hindu  

Recently, a single woman, residing in Delhi, approached the Delhi High Court seeking permission to terminate her 22-week-old pregnancy. The woman filed an appeal before the Supreme Court of India, which in the first instance, granted her permission to terminate the pregnancy based on the report of the medical board concerned. First, it acknowledges the context of criminality in which …

Equality and individual autonomy in reproductive rights: India shows the way
2 years, 2 months ago

Equality and individual autonomy in reproductive rights: India shows the way

Hindustan Times  

Women’s consent matters – that’s the top takeaway from the Indian Supreme Court ’s judgment on abortion for all women on International Safe Abortion Day. In a bold and landmark judgement on September 29, India’s top court interpreted the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act and Rules to reassert the reproductive rights for women and individuals with diverse gender identities who …

SC Verdict on Abortion Rights: Ex-Judge Sikri Says It’s a Step Closer to Addressing Marital Rape Issue
2 years, 2 months ago

SC Verdict on Abortion Rights: Ex-Judge Sikri Says It’s a Step Closer to Addressing Marital Rape Issue

News 18  

Days after the Supreme Court ruled that women who are victims of marital rape are also entitled to a safe and legal abortion, former top court judge Justice AK Sikri has said the latest verdict would pave the way for addressing the issue. Justice Chandrachud, speaking for the bench, has made an indication that we have to recognise for the …

Explained | How has the Supreme Court expanded abortion rights?
2 years, 2 months ago

Explained | How has the Supreme Court expanded abortion rights?

The Hindu  

The story so far: On September 29, the Supreme Court ruled that single and unmarried women with pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks are entitled to access the same safe and legal abortion care as married women. Chandrachud said “the rights of reproductive autonomy, dignity and privacy give an unmarried woman the right of choice as to whether or not …

No discrimination: The Hindu Editorial on Supreme Court’s abortion ruling
2 years, 2 months ago

No discrimination: The Hindu Editorial on Supreme Court’s abortion ruling

The Hindu  

The Supreme Court’s ruling holding that single and unmarried women have the same right to medically safe abortion as married women is a necessary intervention to set right an anomaly between the letter of the law and its practice. Anchored on the equality clause in the Constitution, as well as on the right to dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy of …

Supreme Court ruling on abortion comes as a ‘ray of hope’, say activists
2 years, 2 months ago

Supreme Court ruling on abortion comes as a ‘ray of hope’, say activists

The Hindu  

The historic judgment of the Supreme Court Bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud that unmarried women in a consensual relationship are also entitled to safe and legal abortion along with its strong emphasis on women’s right to bodily autonomy without the need for authorisation from a third-party to access abortion was welcomed as “progressive” and a “ray of hope” at …

Supreme Court says all women are entitled to safe abortions even as unsafe terminations prevail
2 years, 2 months ago

Supreme Court says all women are entitled to safe abortions even as unsafe terminations prevail

India Today  

In June 2022, the U.S. Supreme Court overturned the 50-year-old Roe v Wade judgment, making abortion a federal issue, and leading to widespread abortion curbs all over the country. As per the National Family Health Survey-5, released earlier this year, nearly three per cent of all pregnancies in the country resulted in abortion. Safety — or the lack thereof According …

Supreme Court axes 51-year-old curb, single women get equal abortion rights
2 years, 2 months ago

Supreme Court axes 51-year-old curb, single women get equal abortion rights

The Hindu  

In a historic judgment, the Supreme Court on Thursday allowed unmarried and single women whose pregnancies are between 20 and 24 weeks to access safe and legal abortion care on par with their married counterparts. The court declared that prohibiting single or unmarried pregnant women with pregnancies between 20 and 24 weeks from accessing abortion while allowing married women with …

Regressive, inhumane: The Hindu Editorial on the U.S. Supreme Court removing right to abortion
2 years, 5 months ago

Regressive, inhumane: The Hindu Editorial on the U.S. Supreme Court removing right to abortion

The Hindu  

When a democracy rolls back a constitutional right that has been in place for almost half a century, it must consider itself in deep peril. The U.S. stands at that fraught juncture now, after its Supreme Court, in a 6-3 majority, overturned the 1973 ruling in Roe vs Wade, and took away the constitutional right to abortion. With Roe, as …

Explained | What do Indian laws say about Abortion?
2 years, 5 months ago

Explained | What do Indian laws say about Abortion?

The Hindu  

The story so far: In a significant step backwards for women’s rights in the U.S., the Supreme Court overturned the landmark Roe v. Wade judgement of 1973, which gave women in America the right to have an abortion before the foetus is viable outside the womb or before the 24-28 week mark. The 2021 Act increased the upper limit of …

Abortion in India: This vintage ad from 70s was ahead of its time
2 years, 5 months ago

Abortion in India: This vintage ad from 70s was ahead of its time

Live Mint  

Since the US Supreme Court ended the right to abortion, it has sparked discussions on one of the most divisive and bitterly fought issues in American political life. Abortion is a simple procedure if you contact your doctor early.” The vintage ad says: “Abortion is legal. Abortion is a simple procedure if you contact your doctor early.” One Twitter user …

U.S. Supreme Court decision could stigmatise abortion globally, says Population Foundation of India
2 years, 5 months ago

U.S. Supreme Court decision could stigmatise abortion globally, says Population Foundation of India

The Hindu  

The United States Supreme Court’s decision to overturn its own landmark 1973 judgment in Roe Vs. Wade that made abortion a constitutional right in the country could stigmatise abortion worldwide, according to the Population Foundation of India. “Given the global influence of the U.S. across every sphere, this is likely to stigmatise reproductive health worldwide, affecting millions, if not billions …

Why abortion should be a part of Universal Health Coverage
2 years, 6 months ago

Why abortion should be a part of Universal Health Coverage

Hindustan Times  

Access to abortion is an unconditional human right and should be entitled as a basic health care service delivered as a part of Universal Health Coverage. These various components of disparities have led to the gross neglect of women’s health, and the most overlooked is the Sexual and Reproductive Health Right, which is essential to the fulfillment of universal health …

Abortion Laws In The US And Other Countries
2 years, 7 months ago

Abortion Laws In The US And Other Countries

Live Law  

Early this week, an initial draft majority opinion by conservative justice Samuel Alito of the US Supreme Court was published by Politico. The leaked document, drafted by Justice Alito touches various topics concerning the constitutionally protected right of abortion granted by Roe v Wade and the subsequent 1992 Planned Parenthood v. Casey decision. While rejecting Roe's logic and legal protections, …

A woman’s body is not her own in much of today’s world
3 years, 2 months ago

A woman’s body is not her own in much of today’s world

Live Mint  

The United Nations Population Fund’s State of World Population report, 2021, for the first time, focused on the issue of women’s bodily autonomy. At this juncture, many pro-choice activists are apprehensive about the possibility of the SC’s present conservative majority endorsing the legality of the Mississippi law, or perhaps even going further by overturning its 1973 landmark ruling in the …

50 Years on, India’s Abortion Law Still Has Serious Gaps
3 years, 3 months ago

50 Years on, India’s Abortion Law Still Has Serious Gaps

The Diplomat  

In the 50 years of its existence, India’s Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act has been amended only twice; once in 2002 and now recently in 2021. Studies on the role of the judiciary in access to safe abortion done by Pratigya, a network of individuals and organizations working toward enhancing women’s access to safe abortion care in India, point to …

Explained: Abortion, its Side Effects and the Law in India
3 years, 7 months ago

Explained: Abortion, its Side Effects and the Law in India

News 18  

An abortion is a procedure to end pregnancy. Pregnancy can be terminated at two stages: a) If pregnancy is under 20 weeks, then it can be terminated by single medical practitioner. b) If pregnancy exceeds 20 weeks but does not exceed 24 weeks, then minimum 2 medical practitioners are required to terminate pregnancy. Law says if the continuance of the …

Why Is The Choice Of Abortion Not ‘Equal’ For All Women In India?
4 years, 5 months ago

Why Is The Choice Of Abortion Not ‘Equal’ For All Women In India?

The Quint  

I bought the test only because I was out of other explanations. Due to a lifetime of gynaecological issues I had been on the pill since I was thirteen to regulate my periods – it seemed extremely unlikely that I was pregnant. Yet I could not deny that obnoxious second pink line that appeared on one home pregnancy test after …

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