A Chandigarh district court has refused to allow a 10-year-old girl, who got pregnant after her uncle allegedly raped her multiple times over seven months, abort her 26-week old foetus, The Times of India reported on Wednesday.
The judge rejected the plea, filed by the city police, on the grounds that it would put the girl’s health and life at risk. The decision was based on a report submitted by two gynaecologists of the Government Medical College and Hospital in Sector 32, The Tribune reported.
“The victim is six months pregnant, as revealed by her ultrasound reports,” an official from the hospital said. “We have submitted our medical advice to the court regarding terminating the foetus.”
Doctors warn that pregnancy at such a young age is risky as the pelvic bones are not fully developed yet. A normal delivery at the age of 10 is impossible, and a caesarean section, too, is difficult.
The judge had sought a report from the doctors after the police had approached the court on Saturday. The uncle, a native of Nepal identified as Kul Bahadur, was arrested on allegations that he had raped his niece seven to eight times.
Indian law allows abortion of foetuses up to 20 weeks old, but courts can make exceptions in case abnormalities are detected.
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