CRIMINALISING ABORTION:

DILLEMA OF MORALITY, HEALTH

AND CHOICES
 BACKGROUND
Abortion has been a debatable topic since time
immemorial. In India it is governed by Medical
Termination of Pregnancy Act 1971. The Act Allows
termination of pregnancy only on certain grounds.
Restricting abortions on other grounds thus obstructs
the choice of women.
Thus the serious concern is whether the criminal law
could be used as a means to impose moral standards,
or to restrict the choices of woman, her life and
liberty.
 HYPOTHESIS

The present status of abortion related policy India

criminalises it and does not serves the purpose of
criminal law. It is not only obstructs the reproduction
choices but also pushes women towards illegal
abortions resulting in unsafe abortions.
 OBJECTIVE

To identify whether criminalisation of abortion in

India serves the purpose of criminal law
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

What are the fundamental objectives of criminalising

abortion? Whether the goal serves the aims of
criminal law?
What is the status of unborn foetus?
What is the impact of criminalisation of abortion?
Whether criminalisation of abortion is excessive
intervention in private sphere?
The recent developments in laws related to abortion
in other jurisdictions.