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News18
5 hours ago
- Health
- News18
‘Consent Paramount': Allahabad HC Clears 31-Week Abortion For Minor Rape Survivor Despite Medical Board Warning
Last Updated: The minor, aged 17 and a half, had approached the court through her father, seeking medical termination of pregnancy resulting from sexual assault Despite a medical board's caution that terminating a 31-week pregnancy could endanger both mother and foetus, the Allahabad High Court has allowed a minor rape survivor to undergo the procedure, underscoring that her consent and reproductive autonomy are constitutionally protected. The minor, aged 17 and a half, had approached the court through her father, seeking medical termination of pregnancy resulting from sexual assault. A case under the POCSO Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita is already underway. Earlier, the girl had approached the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Agra, who referred the matter to a medical board. The board, after two rounds of examination, concluded that the pregnancy was well past 29 weeks and that abortion posed a threat to both mother and unborn child. By the time the matter came up before the High Court, the foetus was approximately 31 weeks old. But the court wasn't persuaded by medical caution alone. During a special hearing, Justices Manoj Kumar Gupta and Ram Manohar Narayan Mishra noted that the girl had been through trauma and her mental and physical condition was 'precarious". Counselling sessions conducted by a psychiatrist and clinical psychologist revealed that the minor and her family were fully aware of the risks but remained determined to terminate the pregnancy. In a sealed report submitted to the court, the counsellors wrote that the petitioner and her family understood all options, yet did not want to carry the pregnancy to term under any circumstance, citing emotional distress, social stigma, and economic hardship. The state's counsel, Rajiv Gupta, confirmed that the medical college had tried to dissuade the girl, but the team could not alter her decision. 'She is not in a stable mental state and is dealing with deep trauma," he submitted. Weighing the circumstances, the court relied heavily on recent Supreme Court rulings, including A (Mother of X) v State of Maharashtra (2024) and XYZ v State of Gujarat (2023), where it was held that the right to abortion is part of the fundamental right to dignity, privacy, and bodily autonomy. 'Consent of a pregnant person in decisions of reproductive autonomy and termination of pregnancy is paramount," the Allahabad High Court observed, adding that denial of termination in cases of rape, especially involving minors, may be arbitrary and unreasonable. Calling it a 'difficult but necessary" decision, the court allowed the termination and directed the principal of SN Medical College, Agra, to form a team of specialists to perform the procedure without delay. It further directed the District Magistrate to ensure all medical and travel expenses of the petitioner are covered by the state. The aborted foetus is to be preserved for forensic examination. Confidentiality of the victim was ordered to be strictly maintained, and the court acknowledged the medical team's support in handling the sensitive case. First Published: News india 'Consent Paramount': Allahabad HC Clears 31-Week Abortion For Minor Rape Survivor Despite Medical Board Warning Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Time of India
8 hours ago
- Time of India
Rape & murder: Accused gets life term in 44 days
Lucknow: As part of 'Operation Conviction', the Firozabad police successfully secured a life sentence for the main accused, Kaushal, and significant penalties for three accomplices within just 44 days of the rape and murder of an eight-year-old minor girl. The investigation and effective prosecution were conducted under the guidance of SSP Saurabh Dixit and ASP Ravi Shankar. The case involved the abduction, rape, and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Narkhi, Firozabad, on June 17, 2025. The police registered the case under multiple sections, including the POCSO Act. The main accused, Kaushal, was sentenced to life imprisonment until his last breath and fined Rs 1,40,000. The three accomplices Manish, Arjun and Radha received seven-year sentences and fines of Rs 20,000 each. DIG Agra Range, Shailesh Pandey, said that the police cracked the case within 24 hours of the girl's disappearance. "The investigation revealed that the accused raped and strangled the minor, hiding her body in a wall with the help of his family. Prompt action led to the arrest of all four accused within a day, with the main accused apprehended in an encounter, recovering illegal arms and the victim's chain. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Gentle, Needle-Free Way to Monitor Blood Sugar—Now Being Tried by Seniors Zakdavi Undo A comprehensive 135-page charge sheet, backed by scientific evidence, was submitted in just seven days," said Pandey. The forensic DNA report, crucial in linking the accused to the crime, was obtained in 10 days. The court took cognisance of the charge sheet on July 2, 2025, and completed the trial in 25 working days. The dedicated efforts of the police, prosecution, and court officials ensured swift justice, setting a precedent for future cases. The Firozabad police remain committed to decisive action against crime, ensuring justice for victims, said ADG, Agra Zone, Anupam Kulshershta.
Time of India
10 hours ago
- Time of India
School manager held for sexually assaulting class 2 girl in Dehat
1 2 Kanpur: Police on Wednesday arrested a school manager for allegedly sexually assaulting a class II girl in the Rania area of Kanpur Dehat. A case was registered against him under the POCSO Act and various other sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The incident occurred on Monday and came to light on Tuesday evening, when the girl's father filed a complaint against the school manager. According to reports, a farmer's seven-year-old daughter and his brother studies at a higher secondary school and used to commute in a school van operated by Raghuveer Kushwaha. On Monday, after dropping off all the other children, Raghuveer allegedly molested the girl and touched her inappropriately. When the girl's mother was changing her clothes at home, she was shocked to see marks on her body. Upon questioning, the girl revealed that the school operator had been behaving inappropriately during the commute and also threatening her. The mother then informed her husband, and the two subsequently went to the police station to file a complaint against the accused. ASP Rajesh Pandey said that a case was registered under the POCSO Act, along with charges of molestation and issuing threats. "The accused has been arrested," he added.
NDTV
19 hours ago
- NDTV
Navi Mumbai Teacher Arrested After Video Call With Student. She Was Semi-Nude
Mumbai: A school teacher in Navi Mumbai has been arrested after an alleged semi-nude video chat with a minor student. The 35-year-old woman has been charged in an FIR under the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act after the boy's father approached police. According to police sources, the teacher had been sending sexually explicit messages to the boy on social media platforms, including Instagram, for a while. The chats then moved to video calls in which she was semi-nude. These video calls continued for a while before the boy confided in his parents. The parents then approached the police and filed a complaint. In his complaint, the boy's father said the teacher's activities had affected the boy's mental health. Police have taken the teacher into custody and registered a case under the POCSO Act. Police are also investigating whether the teacher had a history of such conduct with her students. Her phone has been seized and social media accounts are being scanned for evidence, the sources said. This comes weeks after a 40-year-old woman teacher of a prominent Mumbai school was arrested on charges of sexually assaulting a 16-year-old boy on multiple occasions over a year. The married woman was charged under the POCSO Act. The accused had told the police that she was attracted to the teenager during various meetings for an annual school function. The boy was initially reluctant and avoided her, so the teacher approached one of her female friends for help. The accused's friend, who has also been charged, reached out to the minor and reportedly told him that relationships between older women and teenage boys have "become quite common".
News18
a day ago
- News18
Female Teacher Arrested In Navi Mumbai For Indulging In Obscene Acts With School Students
Last Updated: A female teacher was arrested for indulging in alleged inappropriate acts with school students, including obscene video calls in Navi Mumbai. A female teacher of a private school in Navi Mumbai was arrested under the POCSO Act for allegedly indulging in obscene activities with her students, the police said on Wednesday. She allegedly performed obscene acts with school boys on video calls, the officials said, adding that it also included sending her inappropriate videos to the victim children. More to follow… view comments Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
