SC agrees to hear plea challenging validity of abortion laws

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The petition, which was filed by a woman in the 24th week of her pregnancy, argues that current laws deny women’s rights to abort in case of extraordinary medical complications.

The petition also says the foetus has abnormalities and will cause mental distress to the mother and challenges constitution validity of section 3(2) of medical termination of pregnancy act 1971 prescribing a ceiling of 20 weeks.

As the laws currently don’t permit an abortion after twenty weeks of pregnancy, the petition argues that the ceiling is unreasonable, arbitrary, harsh, discriminatory and violative of the right to life and equality.

The petitioner has sought that the relevant section must be declared unconstitutional or read down.