Rohit Shishodia
The union cabinet has approved extending the upper age limit for permitting abortions from the present 20 weeks to 24 weeks. The cabinet has approved  the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (Amendment) Bill, 2020, to amend the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, 1971.

The proposed Bill includes the requirement for opinion of one provider for termination of pregnancy up to 20 weeks of gestation and introducing the requirement of opinion of two providers for termination of pregnancy of 20-24 weeks of gestation.

The Bill includes enhancing the upper gestation limit from 20 to 24 weeks for special categories of women which will be defined in the amendments to the MTP Rules and would include 'vulnerable women including survivors of rape, victims of incest and other vulnerable women (like differently-abled women, minors) etc.

The Bill provides upper gestation limit not to apply in cases of substantial foetal abnormalities diagnosed by Medical Board. The composition, functions and other details of Medical Board will be prescribed subsequently in Rules under the Act.

The Bill includes name and other particulars of a woman whose pregnancy has been terminated shall not be revealed except to a person authorized in any law for the time being in force.

The Bill is for expanding access of women to safe and legal abortion services on therapeutic, eugenic, humanitarian or social grounds.

The proposed amendments includes substitution of certain sub-sections, insertion of certain new clauses under some sections in the existing Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, with a view to increase upper gestation limit for termination of pregnancy under certain conditions and to strengthen access to comprehensive abortion care, under strict conditions, without compromising service and quality of safe abortion.

The government has said that it is a step towards safety and well-being of the women and many women will be benefited by this. Recently, several petitions were received by the Courts seeking permission for aborting pregnancies at a gestational age beyond the present permissible limit on grounds of foetal abnormalities or pregnancies due to sexual violence faced by women.

"The proposed increase in gestational age will ensure dignity, autonomy, confidentiality and justice for women who need to terminate pregnancy," added the government.

The Bill will be introduced in the upcoming session of the Parliament.