Reproductive Autonomy of Minor Rape Survivors

This case commentary examines the Supreme Court's decision in S v. Union of India & Ors. (2026), a landmark judgment concerning the reproductive autonomy of minor rape survivors and the constitutional protection of reproductive rights in India. The case involved a 15-year-old girl who sought termination of her 28-week pregnancy, which had resulted from a consensual relationship with another minor. Despite the statutory limitations under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971, and the refusal of the Delhi High Court to permit termination, the Supreme Court allowed the procedure by prioritizing the minor's dignity, bodily integrity, mental health, and reproductive autonomy under Article 21 of the Constitution.