Pay for minor rape victim's child: HC

UP govt told to ensure mother's education

The UP government should pay for the upbringing of a newborn baby to a 13-year-old rape victim, while also ensuring the victim herself gets education and a suitable employment.

In a landmark judgment, the Lucknow bench of the Allahabad High Court asked the state to deposit Rs 10 lakh in the newborn’s name and ensure her minor mother’s education is free.

The court delivered its judgment on Tuesday on a petition seeking rehabilitation of the raped girl, whose plea for termination of pregnancy the court turned down on health grounds.

The girl had given birth to a baby about ten days back at a hospital here. The bench said the money deposited in the newborn’s name could be redeemed when she turns 21. It also asked to ensure their protection by not disclosing their names and addresses.

The parents of the raped girl refused to accept the “unwanted child” saying they did not want to face “social humiliation” and preferred the newborn be brought up elsewhere. The 13-year-old is currently recouping after giving birth to a baby girl at a city hospital.

Baby’s upbringing

The court order said the Child Welfare Committee would be trusted with the baby’s upbringing, allowing voluntary organisations to contribute if they wished.

It directed the state to give free education to the 13-year old girl up to graduation and arrange for a job. The judgment is a relief to the rape victim’s parents, who eagerly awaited the verdict to know the future of the newborn baby.

Plea for abortion

The girl was allegedly raped in February in a UP district, which her parents came to know when she became pregnant.

Her parents had approached the court asking for termination of the pregnancy, which the court rejected after a team of doctors declared that abortion would be risky for the girl.