SC says minors cannot be forced to get pregnant

A bench of Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan said forcing a woman, especially a minor, to carry a pregnancy to term against her will causes mental, emotional and physical trauma.A judge rejected a proposal to allow girls to give birth and adopt newborn babies, saying a pregnant woman’s choice was more important. “This cannot be a consideration, especially where the child is unwanted. In such circumstances, directing a pregnant woman to give birth to the child against her will and continue the pregnancy would deny the welfare of the pregnant woman and make her subordinate to the unborn child,” the Supreme Court bench said.