Supreme Court on plea to abort: We can't kill child in womb

NEW DELHI: "Our conscience militates against putting the child in the womb to death under judicial orders," said the Supreme Court Thursday as it continued to grapple with the "pro-life versus pro-choice" dilemma arising out of the case of a viable and healthy fetus, over 26 weeks old, being carried by a married woman who is determined to terminate the pregnancy.

CJI DY Chandrachud said, "Do you want us to tell the doctors to stop the heart of the fetus, which is healthy and viable? This would mean putting the child in the womb to death under judicial orders. If the baby is delivered prematurely, doctors say it may have serious deformities. If she carries on with the pregnancy for a few more weeks, the child will be healthier and would have better chances of finding adoptive parents as in India an overwhelming majority prefer to adopt a healthy child."

Additional solicitor general Aishwarya Bhati came to the rescue of the court by volunteering to try to persuade the woman to continue with the pregnancy for a few more weeks. The next hearing is on Friday.