Ahead Of Deciding On Plea Seeking Termination Of 26-Week Pregnancy, Supreme Court Calls For Fresh Report From AIIMS

A bench headed by Chief Justice DY Chandrachud was hearing arguments on the Centre's application seeking recall of the top court's October 9 order permitting the?27-year-old woman, a mother of two, to undergo termination of pregnancy at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

"Though the earlier report which has been submitted by AIIMS does mention that the foetus is normal, nonetheless, in order to place the matter beyond doubt, we request that a further report be submitted on the above aspect," said the bench, also comprising Justices J B Pardiwala and Manoj Misra.

The bench noted the submissions of petitioner's counsel that the woman was undergoing treatment for symptoms of postpartum psychosis since last year.

It asked the medical board to apprise the top court whether there was any evidence to indicate that continuance of pregnancy of the petitioner would be jeopardised by the drugs prescribed for the alleged conditions from which she is stated to be suffering.

It said the doctors at the AIIMS would be at liberty to carry out their own independent evaluation of the mental and physical condition of the petitioner.

"On doing so, we request the doctors to apprise this court, if the petitioner is found to be suffering from postpartum psychosis, whether any alternate administration of medication consistent with the pregnancy would be available so as to neither jeopardise the well-being of the petitioner or the foetus in that regard," the bench said.

The next hearing of the case will now be on October 16.