Supreme Court to hear plea challenging abortion laws

The Supreme Court on Wednesday finally agreed to hear a plea challenging the validity of abortion laws in India on Wednesday. According to reports, the issue will be heard on 21 July.

The apex court decided to hear the plea after a woman in her 24^th week of pregnancy filed a petition arguing that the current laws deny women’s rights to abort even in case of medical complications.  

According to petition, the foetus has abnormalities and will cause mental distress to the mother and challenges constitution validity of section 3(2) of medical termination of pregnancy act 1971 prescribing a ceiling of 20 weeks.

And since Indian laws currently don't permit an abortion after 20 weeks of pregnancy, the petition says that the ceiling is unreasonable, arbitrary, harsh, discriminatory, and violative of the right to life and equality.

She has also asked the court to declare the aforementioned section of law unconstitutional.