It is indeed an historical judgement by the Supreme Court that single women with pregnancies between 20 weeks to 24 weeks are entitled to access the same safe and legal abortion care as married women.

I feel this great judgement for single women with pregnancy upto 24 weeks is a divine gift during holy Devi Navarathri festival days.

As said in the judgement, artificial distinction between married and unmarried women is unconstitutional taking away freedom and rights of single women whether to carry pregnancy or abort.,   It is  alarming that nearly 67% of abortions carried in single women between  2007-2011 were classified as unsafe.

As MTP Act 1971 did not allow single women for abortions, unless  any threat to life, many qualified doctors refused abortions for legal issues and this has resulted in many single women with pregnancy approach quacks for abortion who charge heavily and perform abortions in unhealthy atmosphere resulting in complications of heavy bleeding, infection and some deaths too. Inspite of police booking cases on quacks, many women till the date  continue to approach the quacks and land in trouble just to get aborted to avoid Bad name in the family and society spending lot of money.  Even some qualified doctors out of greed for money had taken up illegal abortions against ethics.

.As Supreme Court permitted abortion to single women on par with married women, all qualified doctors now can take up all abortion cases upto 24 weeks without any fear and do justice to single women for safe abortions in all hospitals by  qualified doctors. Another vital point in the judgement is Registered Medical Practitioner need not disclose the identity and other personal details of  minor for abortion to police under Section 19, 1, of POCSO Act. Great judgement   with human and women touch. As the abortion for single woman legalised moral values should not be eroded with free sex and society should be vigilant against such moves of some with elders keeping a watch on such immoral acts of a few. Abortion for single woman is permitted not for freedom for sexual activities but to save single women from threat to life with illegal abortions and to uphold the freedom guaranteed in constitution without any discrimination from married women whether to keep the unwanted pregnancy or not without any pressure from outside.,

Dr JP Reddy, Nalgonda. TS.