“Cannot Direct To Stop Hearbeat”: Supreme Court Refuses Plea To Terminate 26+ Weeks Pregnancy [X vs Union of India 2023 INSC 919]

The Supreme Court said that it cannot direct the doctors to stop the heartbeat.

CJI led bench gave following reasons for not allowing termination of pregnancy:

▶Having crossed the statutory limit of twenty-four weeks, the requirements in either of Section 3(2B) or Section 5 must be met;

▶There are no “substantial foetal abnormalities” diagnosed by a Medical Board in this case, in terms of Section 3(2B).

▶Neither of the two reports submitted by the Medical Boards indicates that a termination is immediately necessary to save the life of the petitioner, in terms of Section 5.