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Synopsis

A Local Court in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala recently rejected a bail application filed by a doctor accused of allegedly prescribing abortion medicine to a minor.

The Additional District and Sessions Court/Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act (POCSO) Court passed the order in a bail application filed by one Premchand from Thiruvallam who is the second defendant in a case in which Vilas Elias Jomon, from Poonthura, is charged with allegedly sexually abusing a 16-year-old girl and then giving her medication to induce abortion. 

Judge N.P. Shibu dismissed the bail application subsequent to arguments submitted by the public prosecutor Advocate J.K. Ajith Prasad that the doctor endorsed abortion drugs despite knowing the fact that the survivor is a minor.

The court was also informed that this is a criminal act of an extremely serious nature that could have claimed the life of the survivor.

It may be noted that last year the Kerala High Court allowed medical termination of a 16-year-old girl’s 8-week pregnancy. The abortion was earlier refused by the hospital authorities as the minor was a rape victim.

The matter had come up before the High Court where the petitioner’s counsel told the court that the hospital authorities were worried that they would be prosecuted for destruction of evidence if they carry out the termination of pregnancy.

[Source: The Hindu]