India, May 20 -- Holding that a woman's reproductive choice and bodily autonomy are constitutionally protected rights, the Bombay High Court on Monday allowed a 17-year-old rape survivor to medically terminate her pregnancy of more than 25 weeks.

A vacation bench of Justices Gautam A Ankhad and Sandesh D Patil directed JJ Hospital to carry out the procedure on Tuesday after a medical board found the minor fit for termination.

The bench said a woman's right to choice, privacy and dignity cannot be interfered with by family members or partners. It added that the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act leaves no scope for interference in matters concerning a woman's reproductive choice.

According to the plea, the survivor's biological ...