kochi economic backwardness or social stigma cannot be a reason for allowing medical termination of pregnancy mtp the high court has heldthe decision by justice vg arun was after considering a petition by a 21yearold muslim woman who had passed plus two seeking mtp of a sevenmonthold foetus this was after her livein relationship with a person named sanjay since november last year failed as he allegedly rescinded from the promise to convert to islam and marry her he used to assault her when drunk and drove her off from his house in september this year her plea saidat the high court the woman contended that her family is economically backward and the birth of a child prior to her marriage will adversely affect her future as also the dignity of the familya medical board constituted on a directive issued by the court had ruled out mtp as there were no foetal or maternal complications even if mtp is conducted there is a 5060 chance of survival of the newborn but there would be an increased risk of neonatal morbidities and adverse neurodevelopmental issues for the baby the medical board reportedafter noticing the adverse medical board report the court said the supreme court had in a 2009 judgment suchita srivastava and another vs chandigarh administration held that a womans right to make a reproductive choice is a dimension of her personal liberty the question is whether such liberty can go against the provisions of the mtp act when neither the pregnant woman nor the foetus have any medical issues the court said as per the 2021 amendment mtp is not permissible when the pregnancy exceeds 24 weeks unless for medical reasons the court pointed out