ORDER

Rafiq, C.J. -- 1. This writ petition has been filed by petitioner- XYZ praying for a direction to the respondents to allow her daughter (hereinafter referred to as “Victim-A”) to undergo medical termination of pregnancy at the State expense. The petitioner has also challenged the constitutional validity of section 3(2)(b) of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 (for short “the MTP Act”) to the extent it stipulates a ceiling of 24 weeks for medical termination of pregnancy with the prayer the same be declared as ultra vires Article 14 and 21 of the Constitution of India. The petitioner has also challenged the order dated 6.7.2021 passed by the Third Additional Sessions Judge, Hoshangabad in MJC-R No.207/2021 rejecting application of the petitioner for permission to terminate pregnancy of Victim-A.

2. The petitioner is resident of Village Baagratwa, Tehsil Babai, District Hoshangabad of State of Madhya Pradesh. She belongs to Scheduled Tribe community. She is wholly illiterate, living below poverty line. She does not have any moveable or immoveable property. According to the petitioner, she and her husband work as a labourer. Her daughter Victim-A is aged about 23 years and she is mentally retarded. The petitioner and her husband left their village for Ujjain for earning livelihood by doing labour work. When they returned back after some time, the petitioner found that her daughter Victim-A was behaving in a peculiar manner. Their daughter Victim-A informed them in sign language about certain stomach pain. On making further enquiry, she learnt that one of her neighbours had committed rape upon her. She immediately took her to the doctor, who found that she was pregnant. The petitioner lodged a first information report with the Police Station Babai. District Hoshangabad, which has been registered for offence under section 376(2)(1) of the IPC as Crime No.301/2021. The accused was arrested on 20.6.2021. The police got Victim-A medically examined and also obtained the medical report about her mental health. Victim-A was thereafter sent for further medical examination on 22.6.2021, upon which it was confirmed that she was carrying pregnancy of 22 weeks. The petitioner immediately filed an application under section 3 of the MTP Act on 30.6.2021 before the Judicial Magistrate First Class, Hoshangabad, seeking permission for termination of her pregnancy, who rejected the same on 2.7.2021. Since 3rd and 4th July, 2021, being Saturday and Sunday, were holidays, the petitioner filed application under section 3 of the MTP Act with the same prayer before the Third Additional Sessions Judge, Hoshangabad on 5.7.2021, which was registered as MJC-R No.207/2021. The same was however rejected on the very next working day i.e. 6.7.2021 under the ignorance about the latest law whereby maximum length of pregnancy under section 3(2)(b) of the Act, which was earlier 20 weeks, was raised to 24 weeks by amendment to that effect by the Act 8 of 2021 published in the Gazette of Government of India on 25.3.2021.

3. When the matter was listed before this Court on 12.7.2021, the Court directed the Medical Superintendent, Hamidia Hospital, Bhopal to constitute a Multi Disciplinary Medical Board consisting of registered medical practitioner each from the Department of Gynaecology, Psychiatry, Paediatrics and Radiology or any other specialist, in his discretion, as per the MTP Act for having the radiological examination of the fetus to determine the status of its health and also give the bona fide opinion as to whether the medical termination of the pregnancy would be necessary to save the life of the victim. A report of the Medical Board has been produced today, which reads thus :-

“The findings of the Medical Board are as follows :-

1. Survivor age 24 y/f (as per AADHAR card). As per the history narrated by mother, she has history of delayed milestone, poor understanding, poor self care, inability to speak, drooling of saliva since childhood.