15-yr-old rape survivor gives birth to baby boy, relinquishes parental rights

Officials said the mother and her parents relinquished the child’s rights, the formal adoption procedure for the baby has since begun

Published on: May 5, 2026, 13:11:38 IST

By Ridhima Gupta, New Delhi

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15-year-old pregnant rape survivor, who was recently granted permission by the Supreme Court to terminate her 7-month pregnancy delivered a baby boy at AIIMS, New Delhi on Saturday, officials confirmed.

The court allowed termination despite the pregnancy having crossed the statutory limit. (HT File Photo)

“Currently the newborn is under observation at the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) in AIIMS,” officials said. However, hospital officials said they discharged the girl at her and her parents’ request.

“The condition of the newborn is stable. The baby boy has not suffered any major pre-term developmental health issues. However the newborn has to be under constant monitoring,” officials said.

Officials said the mother and her parents relinquished the child’s rights, the formal adoption procedure for the baby has since begun with the Central adoption agency.

“The family expressed their wish to relinquish their rights to the newborn and we formally accepted their written statement,” officials said.

The apex court on April 24, allowed the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP), underscoring the reproductive autonomy of a woman. The court allowed termination despite the pregnancy having crossed the statutory limit under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 and held that forcing a minor to continue an unwanted pregnancy would violate her right to dignity, autonomy and personal liberty under Article 21.

The pregnancy, as recorded in earlier proceedings, arose out of a relationship between the minor girl and another minor, though the law treated it as a case of rape given her age.

Also Read:‘State can’t choose for citizens’: SC refuses to reopen 15-year-old’s abortion case

The court on April 29 dismissed the review petition filed by AIIMS against the direction to medically terminate a 15-year-old girl’s seven-month-old pregnancy.

A bench of Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi stated that priority must be given to the choice of the girl’s family. They advised the institute to explain the procedure’s consequences to the girl’s parents so they could make an informed choice.

“No, we will not allow the institution to choose for the parents. The parents will choose, the institution will enable the choice,” Justice Bagchi said.

The minor girl’s mother approached the court seeking permission for MTP as it had crossed the statutory limit. She moved the Delhi High Court earlier where the request for MTP was rejected on April 21.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Ridhima Gupta
Ridhima Gupta is a Principal Correspondent at Hindustan Times, where she covers healthcare, pharmaceuticals, and public health policy. Her reporting centers on Delhi’s major hospitals (AIIMS, Safdarjung, Lok Nayak), the state health department, and emerging medical trends. Ridhima is particularly interested in reporting on healthcare issues through the lens of women, children, and persons with disabilities. Her work often explores the intersection of healthcare and public policy, examining how these factors shape access health care. Based in New Delhi, many of her reports have led to direct government action over the years, in different city. Earlier this year, she completed a media training workshop on the Impact of Extreme Heat on Health, organised by the Global Strategic Communications Council (GSCC), further strengthening her interest in reporting on the intersection of climate change and public health. A postgraduate from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai, Ridhima has around a decade of experience in journalism. She began her career as a trainee television reporter with Mirror Now in Mumbai and has since worked across multiple cities, including Bengaluru, Hyderabad, and Delhi, contributing to both print and broadcast newsrooms. She is a recipient of the Laadli Media Fellowship (2022) for her reporting on education, disability, and women’s issues. Before joining Hindustan Times, Ridhima worked with The Times of India, New Indian Express and News18. A native of Jhansi, Uttar Pradesh, Ridhima completed her undergraduate studies in Biotechnology. And when she is not working as a journalist she likes to paint and go on nature hikes.Read More

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