A victim of sexual assault cannot be compelled to continue her unwanted pregnancy, the Bombay High Court has said while allowing a 12-year-old girl to abort her 28-week pregnancy despite an adverse report from medical experts, reported the PTI.

The court emphasised that to force her to give birth against her wish would be to deprive her of the fundamental right to decide the "path of her life."

A medical board, after thoroughly examining the young girl, had previously opined that the process of terminating the pregnancy would carry a high degree of risk.