CHILD WELFARE COMMITTEE Vs. PRINCIPAL SECRETARY

JUDGEMENT

(1.) Petitioner/Child Welfare Committee, represented by its Chairperson and Members, Government Children Home for Boys, GST Road, Chengalpattu, Kancheepuram District, has brought this writ petition seeking a mandamus directing respondents 1 to 4 to medically terminate the pregnancy of a minor girl, aged about 14 years, at the earliest point of time.

(2.) Learned counsel for the petitioner submitted that the minor girl, daughter of Rajendran and Gowri, aged about 14 years was produced before the petitioner by the District Collector, Kancheepuram, on 04.04.2018. On production of the said minor girl, the petitioner admitted her in the Christ Faith Home for children at Mettu Colony, Manapakkam, Chennai. At the time of production, a report of the Doctor informing that the said minor girl was raped by a known person five months ago has been submitted. Immediately thereafter, the minor girl was taken to Chengalpet Medical College Hospital on 23.03.2018, a teenage pregnancy by VHN AR entry was made and AR No.5760189 was also given. A case was registered in Crime No.109 of 2018 on 04.04.2018. Again, the petitioner sent a letter No.223 of 2018 on 12.04.2018 to the HOD Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengalpattu Medical College and Hospital, Chengalpattu, seeking medical advise regarding continuation of pregnancy of the minor girl. After examination of the minor girl, it was found that the minor girl was pregnant with single intra uterine pregnancy of around 18 weeks gestational age. Adolescent pregnancy are prone for higher risk of complications like pregnancy induced hypertension, anemia, CPD, preterm birth, PROM, IUGR, increased infections, etc. The child and her mother have been given counseling to give consent for termination of pregnancy. Moreover, the petitioner also suggested for termination of pregnancy for securing the minor girl's health and life. As action needs to be done immediately, petitioner has approached this Court.

(3.) This Court has entertained the writ petition on 25.04.2018 and directed the learned Additional Government Pleader to take instructions from the Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Chengalpattu Medical College and Hospital, Chengalpattu.