Rape survivor seeks court’s permission to terminate pregnancy, Rajasthan High Court issues notices

JAIPUR: A rape survivor has sought permission from Rajasthan High Court to terminate her pregnancy. The bench comprising Justice Indrajit Singh while hearing the petition has issued notices to the medical and health department, district collector and district superintendent of police, Jhunjhunu, to file a reply in this matter.
The court is likely to decide on the woman’s application on Monday.
The survivor had filed a petition on Thursday with the help of Rajasthan State Legal Services Authority (RSLSA). She had filed a case of gang-rape at Udaipurwati police station. However, police in its investigation did not find any evidence on the occurrence of rape and thus filed a final report in the trial court.
Thus, expressing dissatisfaction, the woman had written a letter to the Chief Justice of Rajasthan and had also approached the District Legal Services Authority (DLSA) at Jhunjhunu. “After that, the case came to RSLSA and I was asked to prepare a petition in this regard to provide justice to the woman. Notices have been issued and sensing the urgency in the matter as the woman has a pregnancy of 16 to 18 weeks, the court has issued notices to the respondents. After their reply, hopefully by Monday, the court will decide on the application,” said Shalini Sheoran, counsel provided by the RSLSA to the rape survivor.
“On Saturday, the notices were served,” she added. The woman has already moved an application for a fair investigation in the trial court.
(The victim's identity has not been revealed to protect her privacy as per Supreme court directives on cases related to sexual assault)