Supreme Court Urges Centre to Reconsider MTP Law for Rape Survivors

The Supreme Court recently urged the Central Government to consider amending the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act to better address cases involving rape survivors, particularly minors.

The observations were made while hearing a plea concerning a 15-year-old rape survivor seeking termination of a pregnancy beyond the statutory limit.

A Bench led by Chief Justice Surya Kant observed that compelling a rape survivor to continue an unwanted pregnancy may lead to severe emotional trauma, humiliation and lifelong psychological impact.

The Court emphasised that the law should evolve with changing societal realities and suggested that rigid gestational limits may require reconsideration in rape-related pregnancies.