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Chhattisgarh HC Allows MTP Beyond 24 Weeks Citing Foetal Abnormality & Survivor's Right Under Article 21

Target:UPSC GS-IIMPSCTeachingSSC GAPrelims HighMains HighStatic GK Link
20 Apr 2026
~2 min
Source: Indian Express
Key Data:25 weeks24 weeks (MTP limit)Article 21
Bodies:Chhattisgarh High Court
Practice MCQs from today's news ▸
What This Article Covers

1.The Chhattisgarh High Court allowed medical termination of a 25-week pregnancy for a minor rape survivor, exceeding the statutory limit under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act.

2.The court's decision was based on two primary grounds: severe foetal abnormalities and the survivor's right to personal liberty and choice under Article 21 of the Constitution.

3.The judgment provides strategic fodder for Mains questions on judicial interpretation, reproductive autonomy, and the conflict between legal time limits and fundamental rights.

The Big Picture
Prelims · HighMains · High

In a landmark judgment balancing reproductive rights with legal constraints, the Chhattisgarh High Court permitted a 25-week pregnancy termination for a minor rape survivor. The court cited the foetus's serious medical abnormalities and the survivor's fundamental right to liberty under Article 21, overriding the general 24-week limit under the MTP Act.

Exam Lens

Quick Exam Facts From News

CourtChhattisgarh High Court
JudgeJustice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi
Pregnancy Duration25 weeks
Statutory Limit for MTP24 weeks
Legal Acts InvolvedMTP Act, BNS 2023, POCSO Act 2012
Key Constitutional Article CitedArticle 21 (Right to Life & Personal Liberty)

1-Minute Revision

  • ›Court: Chhattisgarh High Court
  • ›Judge: Justice Naresh Kumar Chandravanshi
  • ›Target this Data: 24 weeks is the general upper limit for MTP under the MTP Act.
  • ›Target this Nodal Body: The Medical Board (constituted per MTP Act rules) is the authority to recommend termination beyond 24 weeks.
  • ›Target this Legal Point: Article 21 (Right to Life and Personal Liberty) is the constitutional basis for expanding reproductive rights.

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 the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, which body is empowered to approve termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks?

Q2Statement-basedHard

Consider the following statements regarding the Chhattisgarh High Court judgment on pregnancy termination:

1. The court allowed termination of a pregnancy that had exceeded 24 weeks of gestation.

2. The sole ground for termination cited by the court was the mental trauma of the survivor.

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

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

Q3Data-centricMedium

According to the news article, what was the exact duration of the minor survivor's pregnancy at the time of the medical report?

Q4Application/ImpactMedium

What was the primary constitutional basis cited by the Chhattisgarh High Court for allowing the termination of pregnancy beyond the statutory limit?

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