What are the key principles of India's abortion law

India's Chief Justice claims that the country's abortion law is liberal, pro-choice, and ahead of other countries. Explore the key principles of this law.
The key principles of India's abortion law, as stated by Chief Justice, are as follows:
  • The law recognizes a woman's reproductive rights and aims to provide her with the choice to terminate a pregnancy if she desires.
  • Abortion is legal in India up to 20 weeks of gestation, subject to certain conditions. Beyond this limit, abortion is permitted under exceptional circumstances like risks to the life of the woman or abnormalities in the fetus.
  • The law aims to ensure safe and accessible abortion services for women, protecting their health and well-being. It emphasizes the need for trained medical professionals to perform abortions and mandates that they be done in registered and recognized medical facilities.
  • In cases where the woman's mental health is at risk, the law permits abortions even if the pregnancy is beyond 20 weeks.
  • The law also considers the right to privacy and confidentiality, ensuring that a woman's decision to have an abortion is kept confidential and her personal information is protected.
India's abortion law can be considered progressive as it grants women the right to choose, provides for safe and legal abortion services, and takes into account the well-being of women in exceptional circumstances.
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