As we all know, in a significant ruling on reproductive rights, the Supreme Court recently extended the right to safe and legal abortion up to 24 weeks of pregnancy to unmarried and single women, saying it is the “right of every woman to make reproductive choices without undue interference from the State”. Now, all women in the country, regardless of marital status, can undergo an abortion up to 24 weeks into pregnancy. Actress Anu Aggarwal who made headlines with superhit Aashiqui and is a woman of substance with a strong viewpoint who also runs Anu Aggarwal foundation, shares her take on this.
She says,”It is nice to see the sensitivity where the bench observed that the petitioner should not be denied for the benefit to privilege the MTP act ( medical termination of pregnancy) merely on the grounds that she is unmarried. What does a girl do like the 25-year-old Manipuri woman who told the court that the pregnancy was a result of a consensual relationship but her partner refused to marry her! so she could not give birth to the child. However If the pregnancy can be terminated without endangering her life in 24 months is important to be looked into.” She also adds,”Also the term husband has been changed to ‘partner’ which indicates the intent to cover unmarried women, is a positive step forward for the freedom of women and abortion rights.”
