The Telangana High Court in Hyderabad recently directed state authorities to immediately take steps for the medical termination of pregnancy of a 17-year-old victim of trafficking based on the recommendation of a medical board.
The bench of Justice K Sarath pronounced the order on July 9 in response to a writ petition filed by M/s Prajwala, an organisation dedicated to victims of human trafficking.
The bench had on July 1 directed the state government and the superintendent of Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad to immediately constitute a medical board to examine the request of the petitioner for medical termination of the rape victim’s 21-week pregnancy and inform the court of its opinion within a week.
The petition sought directions to the state’s Health, Medical and Family Welfare Department; the Department for Women, Children, Disabled and Senior Citizens; and Gandhi Medical Hospital to conduct necessary medical tests on the minor and grant permission for the termination of her pregnancy. The petitioner, represented by senior counsel Deepak Misra, argued that the continuation of the pregnancy would cause grave injury to the minor victim.
During the proceedings, the Assistant Government Pleader for Medical and Health presented a report from the medical board dated July 8, 2025. The report, prepared after examining the victim, unequivocally opined that “…as per the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 2021 Amendment Section (3) explanation (2), the pregnancy of the victim girl can be terminated.”
The court stated, “In view of the report of the Medical Board, the pregnancy of the victim girl can be terminated and the victim girl is also willing for termination of her pregnancy. In view of the same, the respondent authorities are directed to take steps for termination of pregnancy of the victim girl forthwith.”
