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IN THE HIGH COURT OF MADHYA PRADESH
Suresh Kumar Kait, CJ and Vivek Jain, J.
In Reference (Suo Motu) v. The State of M.P. & Others
Writ Petition No. 5184 of 2025 (Jabalpur); Decided on 20.2.2025
(1) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 -- Ss. 3 and 5 -- Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, 2003 (as amended in 2021) -- R. 3B -- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Rules, 2020 -- R. 6 -- Constitution of India -- Art. 226 -- necessity of judicial proceedings under Art. 226 of Constitution for termination of pregnancy -- held -- in case of survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest, pregnancy up to 20 weeks may be terminated by a registered medical practitioner and where pregnancy exceeds 20 weeks but does not exceed 24 weeks, by two registered medical practitioners in accordance with provisions of S. 3 of MTP Act and rules framed thereunder without taking resort to judicial proceedings under Art. 226 of Constitution -- R. 6(3) of POCSO Rules also enjoins upon medical practitioner, hospital or other medical facility centre rendering emergency medical care to child, not to demand any legal or magisterial requisition or other documentation as pre-requisite to rendering such care -- held further -- where pregnancy exceeds 24 weeks, permission from High Court is required. Writ Petition No. 39431 of 2024 decided on 12.12.2024 and Writ Petition No. 3491 of 2025 decided on 28.01.2025 referred to. [Paras 11 & 12
(2) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 -- S. 3 -- procedure for termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioner -- where age of foetus/pregnancy of survivor of sexual assault or rape or incest is up to 24 weeks -- standard operating procedure laid down -- but SOP shall not abridge or limit power of Medical Officer/Board to terminate pregnancy in cases where termination of pregnancy is necessitated in accordance with provisions of Ss. 3(2B) and 5(1) or other applicable provisions of Act. [Paras 13(a) & 14
(3) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 -- S. 3 -- procedure for termination of pregnancy by registered medical practitioner – where age of foetus/pregnancy of survivor of sexual assault or rape or incest exceeds 24 weeks -- standard operating procedure laid down -- but SOP shall not abridge or limit power of Medical Officer/Board to terminate pregnancy in cases where termination of pregnancy is necessitated in accordance with provisions of Ss. 3(2B) and 5(1) or other applicable provisions of Act. [Para 13(b) & 14
(4) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 -- S. 3 -- Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Rules, 2020 -- R. 6(6) -- any forensic evidence/foetus collected in course of termination of pregnancy must be preserved for DNA profiling or other investigative purposes in same manner as provided under R. 6(6) of POCSO Rules. [Para 15
(5) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 -- Ss. 3 and 5A -- directed that privacy of victim is to be maintained strictly in view of statutory provisions of S. 5A of Act. [Para 16
(6) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 -- Ss. 3 and 5A -- all concerned directed to ensure strict compliance of guidelines in letter and spirit -- failing which shall amount to contemptuous act on part of erring officer and contempt proceeding shall be initiated against erring officer under Contempt of Courts Act, 1971. [Para 17
¼1½ xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu vf/kfu;e] 1971 && /kkjk 3 rFkk 5 && xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu fu;e] 2003 ¼2021 esa ;Fkk la'kksf/kr½ && fu-3[k && ySafxd vijk/kksa ls ckydksa dk laj{k.k fu;e] 2020 && fu-6 && Hkkjr dk lafo/kku vuq- 226 && xHkZ ds lekiu ds fy, lafo/kku ds vuq- 226 ds v/khu U;kf;d dk;Zokgh dh vko';drk && vfHkfu/kkZfjr&& ySafxd geys ;k cykRlax ;k vxE;xeu dh ihfM+rkvksa ds ekeys esa] 20 lIrkg rd dk xHkZ jftLVªh—r fpfdRlk O;olk;h }kjk] rFkk tgk¡ xHkZ 20 lIrkg ls vf/kd dk gS ijarq 24 lIrkg ls vf/kd ugha ogk¡ nks jftLVªh—r fpfdRlk O;olkf;;ksa }kjk] lafo/kku ds vuq- 226 ds v/khu U;kf;d dk;Zokgh dk vkJ; fy, fcuk] xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 3 vkSj rn/khu fu;eksa ds mica/kksa ds vuqlkj lekIr fd;k tk ldrk gS && i‚Dlks fu;eksa ds fu- 6¼3½ esa Hkh ckyd dks vkikr fpfdRlh; ns[kHkky nsus okys fpfdRlk O;olk;h] fpfdRlky; vFkok vU; fpfdRlh; lqfo/kk dsaæ dks ,slh ns[kHkky nsus dh iwokZis{kk ds :i esa dksbZ fof/kd ;k eftLVªsVh v/;kis{kk vFkok vU; nLrkost dh ek¡x ugha djus dk vkns'k fn;k x;k gS && vkxs vfHkfu/kkZfjr tgk¡ xHkZ 24 lIrkg ls vf/kd dk gS] ogk¡ mPp U;k;ky; dh vuqefr vko';d gSA fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 39431 lu~ 2024 fu.khZr fnukad 12-12-2024 rFkk fjV ;kfpdk Ø- 3491 lu~ 2025 fu.khZr fnukad 28-1-2025 fufnZ"VA ¼iSjk 11 ,oa 12
¼2½ xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu vf/kfu;e] 1971 && /kkjk 3 && jftLVªhÑr fpfdRlk O;olk;h }kjk xHkZ ds lekiu ds fy, çfØ;k && tg‚a ySafxd geys ;k cykRlax ;k vxE;xeu dh ihfM+rk ds Hkw.k@xHkZ dh o; 24 lIrkg rd dh gS && ekud lapkyu çfØ;k vf/kdfFkr && ijarq ekud lapkyu çfØ;k ls mu ekeyksa esa xHkZ lekIr djus dh fpfdRlk vf/kdkjh@cksMZ dh 'kfä de ;k lhfer ugha gksxh tgk¡ vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 3¼2[k½ vkSj 5¼1½ ds mica/kksa vFkok ykxw gksus okys vU; mica/kksa ds vuqlkj xHkZ dk lekiu vko';d gSA ¼iSjk 13¼d½ ,oa 14
¼3½ xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu vf/kfu;e] 1971 && /kkjk 3 && jftLVªhÑr fpfdRlk O;olk;h }kjk xHkZ ds lekiu ds fy, çfØ;k tgk¡ ySafxd geys ;k cykRlax ;k vxE;xeu dh ihfM+rk ds Hkw.k@xHkZ dh o; 24 lIrkg ls vf/kd gS ekud lapkyu çfØ;k vf/kdfFkr ijarq ekud lapkyu çfØ;k ls mu ekeyksa esa xHkZ lekIr djus dh fpfdRlk vf/kdkjh@cksMZ dh 'kfä de ;k lhfer ugha gksxh tgk¡ vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 3¼2[k½ vkSj 5¼1½ ds mica/kksa vFkok ykxw gksus okys vU; micaèkksa ds vuqlkj xHkZ dk lekiu vko';d gSA ¼iSjk 13¼ch½ ,oa 14
¼4½ xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu vf/kfu;e] 1971 && /kkjk 3 && ySafxd vijk/kksa ls ckydksa dk laj{k.k fu;e] 2020 fu- 6¼6½ && xHkZ ds lekiu ds vuqØe esa ,df=r fdlh Hkh U;k;kyf;d fpfdRlh; lk{;@Hkwz.k dks Mh,u, çksQkby ;k vUos"k.k ds vU; ç;kstuksa ds fy, mlh jhfr esa ifjjf{kr tkuk vko';d gS tks i‚Dlks fu;eksa ds fuA 6¼6½ ds v/khu micaf/kr gSA ¼iSjk 15
¼5½ xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu vf/kfu;e] 1971 && /kkjk 3 rFkk 5d && funs'k fn;k x;k fd vf/kfu;e dh /kkjk 5d ds dkuwuh mica/kksa dh –f"V ls ihfM+rk dh futrk vfrfu;efu"Brk ls cuk, j[kh tk,A ¼iSjk 16
¼6½ xHkZ dk fpfdRlh; lekiu vf/kfu;e] 1971 && /kkjk 3 rFkk 5d && lHkh lac)tu dks fn'kkfunsZ'kksa dh Hkk"kk vkSj Hkko dk vfrfu;efu"B vuqikyu lqfuf'pr djus dk funs'k fn;k x;k && ftlesa vlQy jguk xyrh djus okys vfèkdkjh }kjk voekuiw.kZ dk;Z dh dksfV esa vk,xk rFkk xyrh djus okys vf/kdkjh ds fo:) U;k;ky; voeku vf/kfu;e] 1971 ds v/khu voekuuk dk;Zokgh vkjaHk dh tk,xhA ¼iSjk 17
ORDER
Kait, C.J. -- 1. This suo motu writ petition has been registered on account of divergent directions passed by the learned Single Judge, Indore Bench in Writ Petition No.39431 of 2024 (X Vs. The State of Madhya Pradesh & others) vide order dated 12.12.2024, in which certain guidelines have been carved out in order to expedite the cases relating to termination of pregnancy under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (for short “the MTP Act”). It was held that these guidelines shall be followed in each and every case whereas the learned Single Judge at Principal Seat, Jabalpur in Writ Petition No.3491 of 2025 (Prosecutrix X Vs. State of M.P. and others) vide order dated 28.01.2025 regarding matter of termination of pregnancy of rape survivor under the provisions as contained in section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 is of the view that pregnancy may be terminated where the length of pregnancy does not exceed 24 weeks without obtaining the order of the Court. Further held that permission from the Court is only required in cases where the pregnancy is of more than 24 weeks.
2. Taking serious note of procedural delay occurred in the case of rape survivor in Crime No.532/2024 registered at Police Station Mehidpur, District Ujjain and in order to expedite the MTP cases where the time is crucial owing to the provisions as contained in section 3 of the MTP Act), the Single Bench at Indore in Writ Petition No.39431 of 2024 vide its order dated 12.12.2024 has laid down the procedure in order to ensure that timely legal and medical help reaches to the rape survivor when it is needed the most. The procedure laid down is as follows :--
“Procedure to be adopted by the Police, District Courts and the Registry of this Court :--
It has been directed that henceforth, whenever a case of rape is registered in any police station, the following procedure shall be adopted :--
(i) The SHO of the said police station, on the basis of the MLC of the victim indicating that she is pregnant, shall forthwith forward the victim to the concerned District Court;
(ii) the learned Judge of the District Court, regardless of any application for termination of pregnancy, though not maintainable, filed before it or not, shall refer the victim to the concerned medical officer/Board to expeditiously submit its report, if the pregnancy of the victim can be terminated;
(iii) the District Court, after obtaining the said medical report, under intimation to the victim and her parents, directly refer such case and report to the nearest Registry of the High Court;
(iv) the Registry of this Court, in turn, shall register such reference as a Writ Petition under Article 226 of the Constitution, Suo Moto, and list the matter immediately before the concerned Bench having the roster, so that appropriate orders regarding termination of pregnancy can be passed by this Court without any undue delay.”
3. Subsequently, the learned Single Judge, Principal Seat at Jabalpur in Writ Petition No.3491 of 2025 vide order dated 28.01.2025 while dealing with matter listed before the Bench in compliance with the directions of aforesaid order dated 12.12.2024 passed in Writ Petition No. 39431 of 2024 by Single Bench at Indore, has held at para no. 5 read with para no.6 that woman, who are survivors of sexual assault or rape or incest, can get their pregnancy terminated upto 24 weeks and order from the Court is not required for termination of pregnancy and pregnancy can be terminated under the provisions of the MTP Act. The learned Single Bench at Jabalpur further held that permission is only required in cases where pregnancy is more than 24 weeks old as termination of such pregnancy is not permissible under Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and in said case, High Court has to exercise its jurisdiction under Article 226 of the Constitution of India for passing orders for termination of pregnancy. The relevant paras of judgment are as follows :
“2.
Rape - Termination of pregnancy - Right of privacy of petitioner, medical reports, and bearing in mind best interest principle, petition deserves to be allowed as prayed for only with a view to save ....
The judgment underscores the statutory provisions and judicial interpretations governing the termination of pregnancy under the MTP Act, emphasizing the balance between the rights of the woman and th....
The court affirmed the right to reproductive autonomy under Article 21, allowing a minor victim of rape to terminate her pregnancy, emphasizing the importance of her consent and well-being.
The court underscores the significance of mental health for minors and affirms the right to seek medical termination of pregnancy under exceptional circumstances.
The central legal point established in the judgment is the eligibility for medical termination of pregnancy of a minor victim of sexual assault under the statutory framework of the Medical Terminatio....
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