Latest news with #MedicalTerminationofPregnancyAct
Hindustan Times
2 days ago
- Health
- Hindustan Times
HC asks hospital to form panel to see if woman with chronic illness can undergo abortion
New Delhi, The Delhi High Court has directed Safdarjung Hospital to form a medical board to ascertain if a 29-week pregnant woman suffering from a chronic kidney disease could undergo abortion. Justice Sachin Datta said in case the medical board opined that the termination of pregnancy was warranted, the hospital would proceed with procedure on the 39-year-old woman. "It is directed that a medical board be constituted at the Safdarjung hospital for the examination of the petitioner, for the purpose of assessing whether the present case qualifies for medical termination of pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act , 1971," the high court said. In its May 29 order, the court called it a matter of medical emergency in which the woman's life was in danger though no foetal abnormality was diagnosed. The woman moved the high court seeking permission to terminate her pregnancy, which was of 27 weeks at the time, as doctors opined a serious risk to the her life if the pregnancy continued. She moved the court as doctors expressed their inability to proceed due to the statutory restrictions under the MTP Act, limiting such procedures to 20 weeks in ordinary cases and 24 weeks in certain categories such as rape survivors. The woman said she was undergoing treatment for her condition at a private hospital in Gurugram and she learnt about her pregnancy only on April 22. She subsequently approached Safdarjung Hospital in the national capital and over the following few weeks, the doctors conducted a series of tests, informing her about her 27-week pregnancy on May 19 and the complications it posed. Safdarjung Hospital was represented by senior panel counsel Farman Ali. During the hearing, the judge interacted with a doctor of the hospital through video-conferencing when she informed about the petitioner's chronic kidney disease, warranting the termination of her pregnancy.
Time of India
3 days ago
- Time of India
HC acquits DRDO officer in rape case, citing major lapses in probe
1 2 Hyderabad: The Telangana high court has acquitted an administrative officer at DRDO, Shameerpet, who was previously convicted of rape and criminal intimidation. A division bench, comprising Justices P Sam Koshy and N Tukaramji, overturned the special sessions court's Sept 2024 verdict, finding the prosecution's case riddled with inconsistencies and lacking credible evidence. The allegations dated back to Jan 2017, when a minor girl accused the officer—a close friend of her divorced mother—of sexually assaulting her in her mother's absence. Based on her claims, he was convicted under IPC sections 376(2)(f)(n) (rape of a minor by a person in authority) and 506 (criminal intimidation) and sentenced to life imprisonment for impregnating the minor. However, the high court found the prosecution failed to establish the charges beyond reasonable doubt. The foetal sample submitted for forensic analysis was too decomposed for conclusive DNA testing. Further weakening the case, the officer produced a 2005 sterilisation certificate indicating he had undergone a vasectomy—casting serious doubt on his biological ability to father a child. Medical documentation essential to corroborate the pregnancy and abortion claims, including ultrasound reports and compliance with the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, were notably absent. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Dermatologista recomenda: simples truque elimina o fungo facilmente Acabe com o Fungo Undo The court also highlighted the victim's contradictory statements about her mother's whereabouts at the time of the alleged incident and the unexplained delay of seven days in filing the FIR. Criticising the investigation as lackadaisical, the high court bench noted procedural lapses such as failure to examine the doctor who allegedly performed the abortion and poor handling of forensic evidence. The prosecution's reliance on uncorroborated circumstantial evidence, in violation of established legal standards (as per Sharad Birdhi Chand Sarda versus state of Maharashtra), was also condemned. The bench emphasised that conviction cannot rest solely on the female prosecutor's inconsistent testimony without supporting evidence of 'sterling quality.' The court ordered Sharma's immediate release and called for urgent reforms in investigative procedures, including specialised training, independent supervision, and continuous professional development. Justice Tukaramji, in a separate note, urged the formation of dedicated investigative teams for sensitive cases and the establishment of independent oversight bodies to ensure transparency, accountability, and public trust in the criminal justice system.
The Hindu
5 days ago
- The Hindu
HC sets aside life imprisonment in rape case, ‘regrets' to note ‘grand failure' in investigation
The Telangana High Court set aside the life imprisonment sentence awarded by a special court here to Colonel Rishi Sharma in a case of rape and criminal intimidation, observing that the prosecution failed to prove the charges beyond reasonable doubt. There were inconsistencies in the testimonies of key witnesses, and even documentary evidence was overlooked. The Bench of Justices P. Sam Koshy and N. Tukaramji directed the government to free Rishi Sharma, acquitting him of all the charges. The Rajendranagar police of Cyberabad arrested the Colonel, who was then serving as an administrative officer at a defence organisation in Shamirpet, based on a complaint from a woman in her early 20s that he sexually assaulted her. According to the charge-sheet, the 'accused' was the victim's family friend who use to frequent their house. In January, 2017, the complainant's mother went on a trip, requesting Rishi Sharma to stay at their house and look after her daughter and younger son. Police records stated that the accused sexually assaulted her at night and threatened to kill her younger brother if she disclosed the matter to anyone. Nearly three months later, she became pregnant and eventually lodged a complaint, leading to the arrest of the accused. Nearly seven years later, the special court found him guilty and sentenced him to life-imprisonment. Challenging the judgment, the accused filed a criminal appeal petition in the HC. Lack of documents Pronouncing the verdict, the Bench said the prosecution failed to present documents confirming the victim's pregnancy and details of medical laboratory where pregnancy tests were held. The Bench sought to know why the doctor who confirmed the pregnancy was not called as a witness. The survivours' family claimed that the pregnancy was aborted but no records confirming this were presented before the trial court. There were no records about the abortion performed as per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, the Bench noted. The Bench noted that Rishi Sharma had undergone vasectomy operation in 2005. He even presented the sterilisation certificate issued by the Government of India and the Vasectomy certificate issued by the Military hospital of Khadakwala in Pune. This proved the physical inability of the accused to cause the pregnancy, the bench said. Observing that the Bench regretted to note the 'grand failure of the investigation in the case', Justice Tukaramji said that improper handling of the case prompted the Bench to think that the investigators invented a case in support of the police report 'may be with emotional bias or extraneous influence'.
Time of India
6 days ago
- Time of India
Odhav radiologist arrested in Bavla female feticide racket
1 2 TAKE LOGO: Save the girl child Ahmedabad: A radiologist from Odhav was arrested on Tuesday, allegedly, for his involvement in a female feticide racket busted at a guesthouse in Bavla on Monday evening. Ahmedabad rural police identified the accused as 58-year-old Harshad Acharya, who, along with his wife, ran Ashirwad Imaging Centre in Soni Chawl in Odhav. A former nurse, Hemlata Darji from Bavla, was the first arrest made in this case on Monday. "Acharya was in constant touch with Darji. For each abortion, Acharya paid her around Rs 10,000," said a police officer. As one enters the clinic of Acharya, a leading radiologist in Odhav, the first thing one comes across is a poster announces in English: 'No sex determination test is done here'. Another large poster reiterates the point in Gujarati: 'Ahiyan babo chhe ke baby kahevama aavtu nathi (We do not reveal if the foetus is a boy or a girl)'. However, sources privy to the development said that Acharya had a coded reply to reveal the baby's gender to the people. "If he says 'aashirwad (blessings)' with a smile, then it is a boy, and if he says 'theek thai jashe (everything will become alright)' with a serious look, then it is a girl. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Container Houses Bosnia And Herzegovina (Prices May Surprise You) Container House | Search ads Search Now Undo Later, Hemlata would approach these patients and organise the pregnancy termination," said a source. Police confirmed that at least five female feticides were performed in around eight months. "We suspect there might be more," said the officer. The senior officer also did not rule out the involvement of other doctors or radiologists. "The names, if any, will come to light as the investigation progresses," the officer added. Ahmedabad rural police on Tuesday busted an abortion racket linked to female feticide, operating out of a guesthouse in Bavla area of Ahmedabad district on Monday. The raid was conducted based on specific intelligence and executed with the help of local health department officials. Cops are trying to find out if facilities of other guesthouses or hotels were used for this illegal act of pregnancy termination. Darji, 40, was found performing abortions without any valid medical qualifications on Monday evening, police sources said. She worked as a nurse for more than a decade in private hospitals across Bavla and Dholka. Using the experience gained, she allegedly carried out unauthorised pregnancy terminations. Bavla police on Tuesday registered an FIR against Acharya under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. The investigation will include tracing the accused's network, examining financial records, and identifying sonography centres that may have been involved in illegal sex determination.
Time of India
27-05-2025
- Time of India
Female feticide racket busted in Bavla guesthouse, ex-nurse held
Ahmedabad: The Special Operations Group (SOG) of Ahmedabad rural police busted an abortion racket linked to female feticide, operating out of a guesthouse in Bavla in Ahmedabad district on Monday. The raid was conducted based on specific intelligence and executed with the help of local health department officials, police officials said. The accused, Hemlata Darji, 40, was found performing abortions without any valid medical qualifications, police sources said. She has worked as a nurse for more than a decade in private hospitals across Bavla and Dholka. Using the experience gained, she allegedly carried out unauthorised pregnancy terminations. A police officer said that Darji and her assistant were caught along with a woman who was there for an abortion. A man was also detained. Police recovered evidence indicating that the accused maintained contacts with hospitals and sonography centres. Police suspect she used the information received from them to illegally perform pregnancy terminations, specifically targeting female fetuses. She identified this guesthouse as a safe place to run the racket, assuming it would never come under suspicion. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Switch to UnionBank Rewards Card UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo She also kept a list of people seeking to terminate pregnancies when the fetus was determined to be female, police sources said. The woman rented rooms at the guesthouse for the procedures, charging anywhere between Rs 10,000 and Rs 50,000, depending on the financial condition of the person. She would either allegedly give oral medication or injections to the women seeking abortions, with patients staying at the facility for one to two days. Bavla police registered an FIR under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act. The investigation will include tracing the accused's network, examining financial records and identifying sonography centres that may have been involved in illegal sex determination. Inspector A N Jani of Bavla police station stated the focus is now on identifying additional individuals linked to the racket and confirming whether any abortions were conducted beyond the legally allowed gestation period. Police have termed the operation as part of a district-wide crackdown on illegal medical practices and female feticide.
