The stand-off between AIIMS and a Delhi woman seeking medical termination of her 15-year-old daughter's 28-week pregnancy has intensified, with the Supreme Court dismissing the hospital's review plea. The mother has filed a contempt petition against the Union health secretary, and the Centre has stepped in with a curative plea.
Supreme Court's April 24 Order
On April 24, a bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Ujjal Bhuyan allowed medical termination on a plea from the mother and directed AIIMS-Delhi to undertake the procedure. In a detailed order, the court held that medical termination of an unwanted pregnancy cannot be rejected solely on grounds of advanced gestational stage or fetal normalcy. The bench stated that denying termination on such basis would "render the right to bodily autonomy nugatory."
AIIMS Review Plea and Dismissal
Three days later, AIIMS sought a review of the Supreme Court's order, citing medical ethics and the right of the unborn child. The hospital argued that the procedure would lead to preterm delivery of a deformed baby requiring prolonged neonatal ICU support. However, the bench on Wednesday dismissed the review plea, remarking, "It is strange that the review petitioner, AIIMS, is not inclined to obey the SC's order and instead is assailing the order of this court dated 24.04.2026 in order to defeat the constitutional rights of the minor daughter of the appellant."
Contempt Petition and Curative Plea
The mother has filed a contempt petition against Union health secretary Punya Salila Srivastava through her lawyer Rahul Sharma. The petition, listed for hearing on Thursday, seeks contempt proceedings for non-compliance with the Supreme Court's order. Meanwhile, the Centre has also filed a curative petition, which is the last judicial remedy, against the apex court's order. The curative petition is likely to be mentioned before the Chief Justice of India for urgent listing.
As time is running out for the girl, the outcome of Thursday's proceedings will finally decide the controversy.
