India, June 19 -- The Bombay high court on Wednesday allowed a 19-year-old unmarried woman to terminate her 26-week pregnancy, holding that forcing her to continue it would "seriously jeopardise her education, future career prospects, social standing and overall well-being".

"The right of a woman to discontinue a pregnancy has been recognised by constitutional courts, which have consistently upheld reproductive autonomy and bodily integrity as facets of Article 21 of the Constitution," a bench of Justice Bharati Dangre and Justice Manjusha Deshpande said while allowing the plea.

The order was passed after considering a report from the medical board at Sir JJ Hospital. While the board found no foetal abnormalities, it said it could not a...