Supreme Court Warns Centre, AIIMS Of Contempt Charges If Order On Minor’s Pregnancy Termination Not Implemented By May 4
The Supreme Court of India has issued a stern warning to the Centre and AIIMS Delhi, threatening contempt charges if they fail to implement its order allowing a 15-year-old girl’s pregnancy termination by May 4, 2026.
On April 24, 2026, Justices BV Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan permitted the termination of the minor’s over 28-week (later reported as 30-week) pregnancy at AIIMS, emphasizing reproductive autonomy and Article 21 rights to life and dignity. The pregnancy stemmed from a consensual relationship between minors, but the girl expressed unwillingness and faced severe psychological distress, including suicide attempts. The court prioritized her best interests over Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act limits, noting that forcing continuation would cause irreversible harm.
AIIMS filed a review petition citing medical risks to the viable foetus, which the court dismissed as “strange” defiance of constitutional rights. A curative petition before CJI Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was also rejected, with the bench stressing that AIIMS cannot dictate over the girl’s informed decision. On April 30, the same bench issued notice on a contempt petition, requiring the Health Ministry’s Principal Secretary, Health Secretary, and AIIMS Director to appear via video on May 4.
The MTP Act allows termination up to 20 weeks generally, with extensions for specific cases like minors up to 24 weeks on medical opinion. The Supreme Court has repeatedly ruled that procedural limits yield to fundamental rights in exceptional unwanted pregnancy cases, especially for minors. No updates indicate implementation as of April 30, 2026.
