On abortion, Supreme Court has listened to women
IndianexpressSep 30, 2022
India's Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that women, regardless of marital status, are allowed to obtain an abortion up until 24 weeks of pregnancy. Single women were previously barred from obtaining the procedure after 20 weeks.
The Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act (MTP) of 1971 had only provided the 24-week timeframe for women who were married, divorced, widowed, minors, "disabled and mentally ill," or survivors of sexual assault or rape.
While the US Supreme Court has chosen to move backward, the Indian high court is proving to be a 21st-century champion of progressive values. Not only does this ruling protect previously-vulnerable young women and girls, but it also shines a light on the long-overdue need to combat marital rape.
Applying the law equally and classifying marital sexual assault as rape are certainly commendable parts of this ruling. However, the heart of the decision - allowing abortion at such late a stage - is morally wrong. India has already legalized the killing of clearly-viable babies in the womb, and it's about time the country acknowledges its high rate of doing so. While all women should certainly have equal protection under the law, so, too should babies.