Supreme Court urges estranged couple to reconcile before pregnancy ruling

The Supreme Court on Thursday intervened in a sensitive case involving an estranged couple, urging them to explore possibilities of reconciliation before it pronounces on the wife's petition to terminate her 25-week pregnancy.

The bench expressed concern that decisions taken in the heat of marital discord could prove irreversible and cause lasting remorse if the couple later decides to mend their relationship. The justices noted that the couple had been married for only six months, suggesting the relationship remained in its formative phase.

The court's approach reflects its cautious stance on abortion petitions involving marital disputes, balancing the woman's reproductive rights against the emerging viability of the fetus and the possibility of family reconciliation. The bench indicated it would reserve its final decision pending the couple's efforts to resolve their differences.

India's abortion law allows termination up to 20 weeks of pregnancy in most cases, with provisions for extension up to 24 weeks in specific circumstances. Cases involving pregnancies beyond this threshold typically require judicial scrutiny to assess competing interests and exceptional circumstances.