HC admits petition seeking financial benefits for unborn kid

HC admits petition seeking financial benefits for unborn kid
PRESS TRUST OF INDIA

CUTTACK, MARCH 30: The Orissa High Court has admitted a writ petition filed by the parents of a five-month-old unborn child seeking direction to the State Government to provide Rs 30,000 towards financial benefit and medical facilities to ensure its safe birth.

A division bench comprising Chief Justice B N Agarwala and Justice P C Naik while issuing notices on Monday, returnable within one month also restrained the Chief District Medical Officer (CDMO), Jajpur from terminating the life of the unborn `male' child growing in the womb of one Pramila Naik who had been issued a `green card' for undergoing tubectomy operation.

The court, however, refused to grant any interim relief in the form of financial benefit and medical facility pending submission of the State Government's stand in the matter. The petition, filed by Anand Naik and Pramila Naik, alleged that the Government doctor under Jajpur CDMO had been forcing them for medical termination of pregnancy. Being an agricultural labourer she had undergone the operation to prevent conceiving for the third time.