The Karnataka High Court has closed a minor survivor’s petition after the state notified a comprehensive protocol for early identification and timely response to underage pregnancies.
Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav’s 7 October order records procedures linking hospitals, police, child-welfare bodies, legal-services authorities and support persons. The protocol requires counselling on available choices, rapid medical coordination and confidentiality safeguards.
For pregnancies below 24 weeks, the framework states that no judicial or third-party authorisation is required for lawful termination. Where gestation exceeds 24 weeks, legal-services authorities must arrange urgent High Court representation, with designated lawyers expected to file within 48 hours.
The protocol also calls for training, statewide monitoring, compliance audits and a dashboard tracking delays from detection to medical care. After reviewing the notified safeguards and departmental responsibilities, the court found that no further orders were required and disposed of the petition.