Overview

• A bench of Justices Revati Mohite Dere and Neela Gokhale on July 28 rebuked Maharashtra Police for harassing doctors and under-18 girls by insisting on disclosing personal details.
• The court granted a city-based gynecologist the right to proceed with a 13-week pregnancy termination without sharing the minor patient’s name or identity with law enforcement.
• Judges referenced a 2022 Supreme Court ruling under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy and POCSO Acts that exempts medical practitioners from revealing minors’ identities in criminal proceedings.
• To ensure uniform enforcement, the High Court ordered that the Supreme Court’s confidentiality judgment be circulated to all police stations in Maharashtra and to the state Director General of Police.
• The petition underscored that the 13-week-pregnant girl and her parents sought confidentiality to safeguard her future after a consensual relationship.