NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court ruled on Thursday that unmarried women are also permitted to get abortions for pregnancies that result from consensual relationships between 20 and 24 weeks. The Apex court  stressed that the disparity between married and unmarried women is unconstitutional and that all women have the right to a safe and legal abortion.

The exclusion of unmarried women who become pregnant through a live-in relationship from the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Rules, according to a bench led by Justice D.Y. Chandrachud, is unconstitutional. The top court declared that "all women have a right to a safe and legal abortion." Later on in the day, the decision in the case will be uploaded.

The rights of reproductive autonomy also grant unmarried women the same legal protections as married women. The highest court pointed out that married and unmarried women are treated the same under the 2021 modification to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act.

The highest court ruled that the arbitrary division between married and single women cannot be upheld. The bench stated, "Women must have autonomy to have the free exercise of rights...

The Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act and its regulations were to be interpreted by the Supreme Court in order to end discrimination against married and unmarried women by permitting abortion up until 24 weeks of pregnancy, the court had said on August 23.

The Apex court had permitted a 25-year-old woman to abort her 24-week pregnancy that had resulted from a consensual relationship on July 21.

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