All women are entitled to safe and legal abortion, says Supreme Court

The Court ruled that the exclusion of unmarried women who conceive out of live-in relationships from the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules is unconstitutional

In a signiificant development the Supreme Court ruled that denying abortion rights to unmarried women who conceive out of a live-in relationship under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules is unconstitutional, on Thursday.

 "All women are entitled to safe and legal abortion", the court observed.

"If Rule 3B(c) is understood as only for married women, it would perpetuate the stereotype that only married women indulge in sexual activities.This is not constitutionally sustainable.The artificial distinction between married an women cannot be sustained. Women must have autonomy to have free exercise of these rights", Justice Chandrachud said.

Section 3(2)(b) of the MTP