By recognising pregnant woman’s right to dignity and autonomy, Supreme Court has made informed decisions on reproductive health possible

On the International Safe Abortion Day, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court emphatically held that all women are entitled to safe and accessible abortions in India.

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WHEN the Delhi High Court dismissed the matter of X versus. The Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, I was apprehensive that this case would end in disappointment and result in a situation which is similar to  what is happening after the United States Supreme Court's recent decision in Dobbs versus Jackson Women's Health Organization (2022) in the U.S. In an earlier piece for The Leaflet around this decision, I ended with the following question — "to what length must a woman have to go in order to protect her fundamental right of bodily autonomy under Article 21 [of the Constitution]?"

The Supreme Court of India, in appeal, has answered my question affirmatively in favour of the womanhood.  On the International Safe Abortion Day, a three-judge bench of the Supreme Court emphatically held that all women are entitled to safe and accessible abortions in India.