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Chhattisgarh HC Allows 23-Week Abortion Under MTP Act, Cites Foetal Risk & Reproductive Autony for Rape Survivor

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCSSC GATeachingPrelims HighMains MediumStatic GK Link
22 Apr 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:23 weeks and 3 daysApril 17, 2026April 21, 2026April 18, 2026March 30, 2026
Bodies:Chhattisgarh High CourtGovernment Hospital Komaldev
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The Chhattisgarh High Court allowed a 23-week pregnancy termination for a rape survivor with mental illness, citing risks to her health and the foetus.

2.The court's decision relied on Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, and a medical report indicating potential foetal complications.

3.This ruling is a significant precedent for reproductive rights, judicial activism, and the application of MTP Act provisions beyond the standard 20-week limit.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · Medium

The Chhattisgarh High Court permitted a 23-week pregnancy termination for a rape survivor with mental illness, highlighting judicial interpretation of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971. This case underscores the balance between reproductive autonomy and gestational limits, especially for survivors of sexual violence, making it crucial for polity and social justice syllabus.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

Court & JudgeChhattisgarh High Court, Justice Naresh Kumar
Gestation Period23 weeks and 3 days (as of April 17, 2026)
Legal Provision InvokedSection 3, Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971
FIR Registered UnderBhartiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), 2023

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Court & Judge: Chhattisgarh High Court, Justice Naresh Kumar
  • ›Gestation Period: 23 weeks and 3 days (as of April 17, 2026)
  • ›Target this Data: 23 weeks and 3 days (gestation period as of April 17, 2026)
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: Chhattisgarh High Court (Justice Naresh Kumar)
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Section 3 of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971

Mastered this topic? Test your knowledge with a full MCQ quiz.

Practice exam-style questions, track your score, and strengthen your recall.

Q1Static LinkageEasy

Under which Act did the Chhattisgarh High Court primarily grant permission for the termination of pregnancy in this case?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the news:

1. The Chhattisgarh High Court allowed termination of a pregnancy at 23 weeks citing risks to the woman's health and potential foetal complications.

2. The FIR in the case was registered under the relevant sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), 1860.

3. The court directed that the DNA sample of the foetus be preserved for evidence in the case.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

As per the medical board report mentioned in the article, how many weeks pregnant was the survivor as of April 17, 2026?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was a key argument presented by the state's advocate in favour of allowing the pregnancy termination?

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