Rape survivor, denied foetus termination by HC, delivers boy

A rape survivor, whose plea to terminate 28-week pregnancy was rejected by Gujarat High Court in April, today delivered a baby boy in a hospital in Bhavnagar district.
The newborn, who is in good health, is in custody of district authorities since the woman, who is married, does not want to take care of the child, officials said.
"The woman (rape survivor) today delivered a healthy baby boy at Sir Takhatsinh Hospital in Bhavnagar," Deputy Superintendent of Police Tejas Patel told PTI over phone from adjoining Botad district, about 170km from here.
Patel, looking after the protection of the woman, said the mother and child are being guarded by security personnel.

The survivor's family said the child has been kept in a special ward under the custody of Botad district authorities, who have been given responsibility of taking care of the woman and her newborn by the HC as the mother does not want to accept the baby.
"The mother and child are under observation of district authorities for at least the next 48 hours," a family friend of the woman said.

"The victim keeps reiterating that she does not want the child and has requested the District Collector to take the newborn with him," he said.
The High Court on April 16 rejected the plea of the survivor, who became pregnant after being allegedly raped by seven men, seeking to terminate her 28-week pregnancy. The existing law permits termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks.

The HC had also directed the Superintendent of Police (SP) of Botad to take over the investigation in the rape case.
It had ordered the Botad District Collector to keep a close watch on the survivor's family members, including her husband, and ensure proper medical facilities to the woman, who is in mid-20s, to deliver her child.
As per the police report, she was abducted and raped by seven persons at different places for eight months.
On learning about her pregnancy due to rape, she first approached a Botad Court to end her pregnancy, then measured at around 26 weeks.

The plea was rejected by the court citing Section-3 of Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act that permits termination of pregnancy not exceeding 20 weeks. She then moved the HC, which also did not permit her to abort the foetus.
In her plea, the woman said her husband may throw her out of house if she gives birth to someone else's child.