Court Permits Abortion For Surat Teacher Accused Of Kidnapping Her 13 Year Old Student
Surat: In a significant development in the case involving a 23-year-old teacher accused of abducting her 13-year-old student, a special POCSO court in Surat has authorized the termination of her 20-week pregnancy. The procedure is expected to take place within the coming week at the SMIMER Hospital, under supervision of the Surat Municipal Corporation. The court has also directed that the fetus tissue be preserved for DNA testing to assist the ongoing investigation.
The case made headlines late last month when the teacher, who also served as the boy’s private tutor, reportedly fled with him on April 25. The minor, a student from Surat’s Puna area, was missing for nearly five days before police tracked the duo down to a private bus traveling from Jaipur to Ahmedabad. Authorities intercepted the vehicle near the Rajasthan-Gujarat border and safely rescued the child on April 30.
Initial police findings revealed that the teacher and the student had allegedly been in a relationship for nearly a year. Medical and forensic evaluations later indicated that the two had engaged in sexual activity, prompting law enforcement to file additional charges under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, including serious counts of sexual assault and exploitation.
Following her arrest, routine tests revealed that the teacher was pregnant. Her legal team quickly filed a plea seeking medical termination, arguing that continuing the pregnancy could pose serious physical and mental health risks. They also cited the extraordinary nature of the case, with the paternity of the fetus still under investigation and the possibility that the biological father could be a minor.
The report, signed by professor Dr Archish Desai, Assistant professor Dr Sonam Parikh and Senior Resident Dr Thumar, stated, “As the accused is unmarried and 23 years old, continuation of pregnancy may be harmful for her psychologically and socially. According to the MTP Act, Medical Termination of Pregnancy can be done up to 24 weeks of gestation, and the accused wants termination of pregnancy at present. Considering the risk-benefit ratio, termination of pregnancy is advised from our side with an explanation of the risks. Kindly permit Termination of Pregnancy.”
This court order marks a key turning point in a case that has stirred public debate around child protection, consent, and the responsibilities of educators. DNA results are now awaited to establish paternity, which could further shape the legal course ahead.