The Kerala High Court has permitted termination of the 26 week long pregnancy of a minor rape victim, at her risk, saying that freedom of a pregnant woman in making a choice as to whether the pregnancy should be continued cannot be taken away.

The court also said that under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, where any pregnancy is alleged by the pregnant woman to have been caused by rape, the anguish caused by such pregnancy shall be presumed to constitute a grave injury to the mental health of the pregnant woman. In view of the provision under the Act and having regard to the victim's age and the circumstances of her pregnancy, its continuance "would involve grave injury to her physical and mental health" and "it is in the interest of justice to permit medical termination of the pregnancy", the court said.