KOCHI: The High Court has granted permission for the surgical removal of a mentally challenged girl's 6-and-a-half-month-old foetus. The family learned about the girl's pregnancy only after six and a half months. According to the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, a pregnancy cannot be aborted after 24 weeks of gestation. The 17-year-old girl was impregnated by her neighbour. It was the girl's mother who approached the High Court stating that her daughter's mental health deteriorated after learning about the pregnancy.

The petitioner told the court that the hospital authorities will remove the foetus only if the court grants permission. The court had directed Kannur Medical College Superintendent to form a medical board and examine the girl. The medical board had given a report that the foetus had no other problems.