NEW DELHI, April 30 -- The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the Centre to consider amending the law to allow rape survivors to terminate unwanted pregnancies even beyond 20 weeks, asserting that such cases should not be bound by a time limit.

Taking strong exception to a plea by AIIMS seeking to set aside its earlier order permitting a 15-year-old rape survivor to medically terminate her 30-week pregnancy, the court stressed that the law must evolve with time and remain responsive to changing societal realities.

A bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi observed that forcing a child rape survivor to continue pregnancy would leave lifelong trauma and scars. It said the choice must ultimately rest with the sur...