Extracted from the PDF above. The PDF is authoritative.
- 1 -
HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49602 WP No. 35797 of 2025
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA AT BENGALURU DATED THIS THE 28TH DAY OF NOVEMBER, 2025 BEFORE THE HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ WRIT PETITION NO. 35797 OF 2025 (GM-RES) BETWEEN:
SRI. MADHUSHREE S M, WIFE OF SRI. THIMMAPPA C., AGED ABOUT 35 YEARS, RESIDING AT NO.5, MARUTI NILAYA, 9TH A CROSS, LAGGERE MAIN ROAD, BENGALURU-560 058. …PETITIONER (BY SRI. KUSUM RANGANATH., ADVOCATE) AND:
1.
STATE OF KARNATAKA, DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE, VIKASA SOUDHA, DR.B.R.AMBEDKAR VEEDHI, BENGALURU-560 001, REPRESENTED BY ITS PRINCIPAL SECRETARY.
2.
K.C. GENERAL HOSPITAL, 5TH CROSS, MALLESWARAM, BENGALURU-560 003, REPRESENTED BY ITS MEDICAL DIRECTOR.
3.
SPARSH HOSPITAL, NO.4/1, TUMKUR ROAD, NEXT TO RNS MOTORS, YESHWANTPUR, BENGALURU-560 022, REPRESENTED BY ITS MEDICAL DIRECTOR. …RESPONDENTS
Digitally signed by SHWETHA RAGHAVENDRA Location: HIGH COURT OF KARNATAKA
- 2 -
HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49602 WP No. 35797 of 2025
(BY SRI. SARITHA KULKARNI, AGA FOR R1, SRI. BRIJESH PATIL FOR R3)
THIS W.P. IS FILED UNDER ARTICLE 226 OF THE CONSTITUTION OF INDIA, PRAYING TO DIRECT THE R-3 TO ADMIT THE PETITIONER AND TAKE NECESSARY STEPS TO MEDICALLY TERMINATE THE PREGNANCY OF THE PETITIONER AND GRANT AN INTERIM ORDER TO DIRECT THE MEDICAL BOARD OF THE R-2 TO MEDICALLY EVALUATE THE PETITIONER AND OPINE ON WHETHER THE PETITIONER IS FIT AND ABLE TO UNDERGO THE MEDICAL TERMINATION OF THE PREGNANCY AND SUBMIT IS REPORT TO THIS HONBLE COURT, EXPEDITIOUSLY IN THE INTEREST OF JUSTICE AND EQUITY.
THIS PETITION COMING ON FOR ORDERS THIS DAY, ORDER WAS MADE THEREIN AS UNDER:
CORAM: HON'BLE MR. JUSTICE SURAJ GOVINDARAJ
ORAL ORDER
1. Petitioner is before this Court seeking for the following reliefs: a. Issue a writ, order or direction, more in the nature of Writ of Mandamus, directing the Third Respondent to admit the Petitioner and take necessary steps to medically terminate the pregnancy of the Petitioner; b. Grant such other reliefs as this Hon'ble Court may deem just, proper and necessary in the circumstances of the case, in the interest of justice. 2. The petitioner is a 35 year old woman, who is 25 weeks pregnant, having a girl child, who is about 8 years. The petitioner underwent her second trimester scan on 06.11.2025 and 08.11.2025 at Manipal Hospital, Yeshwanthpur. When she was diagnosed that there was
- 3 -
HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49602 WP No. 35797 of 2025
severe early onset on IUGR/FGR, resulting in the fetus having severe uteroplacental insufficiency, chromosomal abnormalities resulting in single gene disorders. 3. The said hospital had advised the petitioner that due to high complications in pregnancy, termination of pregnancy was very high and the fetus could be damaged irreversibly. 4. A second opinion at a third hospital was also obtained, which indicated the very same prognosis. In that background, the petitioner had approached this Court seeking for the aforesaid relief. 5. This Court while its order dated 26.11.2025 had constituted a Medical Board at the respondent No.2-Hospital. 6. On examination of the petitioner, a report has been submitted today in a sealed cover. 7. The examination of said report supports the prognosis/diagnosis made by Manipal Hospital and the third Hospital, inasmuch as it has been indicated that the gestational age is 24 weeks, with the fetus having estimated weight of 384 grams, with absent diastolic flow and that the
- 4 -
HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49602 WP No. 35797 of 2025
Medical Board has recommended the termination of pregnancy on the ground that continuation of pregnancy can lead to sudden intrauterine death due to severe FGI and absent diastolic flow in umbilical artery that the estimated fetal weight being less than 2.5 percentile as per the WHO's report. There being a categorical opinion of the Medical Board and each of the individual doctors of the Board that any delay in carrying out a medical termination of pregnancy would also adversely affect the health of the petitioner. 8.
In that view of the matter, in the interest of the petitioner and also taking into consideration the opinion of the Medical Board, I pass the following:
ORDER
(i) The Writ Petition is allowed. (ii) Taking into consideration the opinion of the Medical Board, respondent No.3- Hospital is permitted to carry out medical termination of pregnancy in respect of the petitioner by following due process. (iii) A copy of the opinion of the Medical Board is directed to be furnished to the counsel for respondent No.3,
- 5 -
HC-KAR NC: 2025:KHC:49602 WP No. 35797 of 2025
which can in turn be furnished to the concerned Doctors. (iv) Hand delivery of the operative portion is ordered.
Sd/- (SURAJ GOVINDARAJ) JUDGE
GVP List No.: 5 Sl No.: 1