In a recent hearing at the Rajasthan High Court, Advocate Shreyansh Mardia made a compassionate gesture by volunteering to cover the child-delivery expenses of a pregnant minor rape victim, following the State’s refusal to provide financial support.
The case was presented before a Bench led by Justice Dinesh Mehta, where the court was informed that the State could not be compelled to bear the costs associated with the victim’s delivery. In response, Advocate Mardia stepped forward to offer his assistance, alleviating the financial burden on the victim’s family.
Justice Mehta commended the lawyer’s gesture, stating that, given Mardia’s offer, no further directive was necessary for the State to cover the expenses. The Court also instructed the Child Welfare Committee to offer counseling and guidance to the minor and her parents regarding the adoption process. The Committee was also granted the authority to take custody of the newborn if required.
The case originated from an application by the father of the minor victim. Although the Court had previously granted permission to terminate the pregnancy, by the time the procedure was to be performed, the victim was already 29 weeks pregnant, making the abortion risky. Faced with these health risks, the family opted to proceed with the delivery and sought the Court’s help to secure financial aid from the State for the delivery and potential adoption.
Despite Advocate Priyanka Borana’s argument that the State had an obligation to bear the medical expenses, the State counsel, represented by Additional Advocate General NS Rajpurohit, maintained that the State could not be ordered to cover these costs. In light of this, Mardia, who also represented the applicant, agreed to shoulder the financial responsibilities, leading the Court to conclude the matter.
