- The Supreme Court of India held that any distinction between a married and an unmarried woman under abortion law was “artificial and constitutionally unsustainable”.
- The apex court held that abortion for a single and unmarried woman whose pregnancies are between 20 to 24 weeks cannot be denied.
- This is being hailed as a landmark decision as the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 did not allow abortion for unmarried and single pregnant women between 20 to 24 weeks after consensual sex.
- The Supreme Court held that since Rule 3B deprived unmarried women of the right to access safe and legal abortions after 20 weeks, therefore, Rule 3B of the MTP Act was unconstitutional.
- The court also held that, for a limited purview of abortion, the meaning of rape also included marital rape.
Question:
Q.1 Recently which rule of the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971 was declared unconstitutional by the Supreme Court?a. Rule 3 A
b. Rule 3 B
c. Rule 3 C
d. Rule 3 D
