The Madras High Court on June 21 said a rape victim need not approach the medical board or the judiciary to terminate her pregnancy provided its length has not exceed 20 weeks. Disposing of a criminal original petition from a victim, Justice N Anand Venkatesh said in all cases of unneeded pregnancy suffered by a victim, she need not be referred to the medical board if the length of pregnancy does not exceed 20 weeks. "The termination of pregnancy can be done as per the provisions of Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971.
The victim girl should not be unnecessarily made to knock the doors of this court," he said in his order. The petitioner, a girl, who was allegedly raped by a man Anil (Name changed) under duress as a result of which she became pregnant, sought a direction to transfer the probe from local police to the Crime Branch CID. The assailant had recorded…
