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Mental age eight, now mother to a fairy
NDTV Correspondent, Wednesday December 16, 2009, Chandigarh

A 20-year-old mentally challenged orphan became pregnant after she was raped at Chandigarh's Nari Niketan. She gave birth to a healthy child earlier this month.

NDTV: Who is she?

A: I am her mother.

NDTV: What is her name?

A: Her name is Pari. I will love her.

Her pregnancy was discovered in June, and it has since become a complicated legal situation. Her mental age is equivalent to that of an eight-year-old, hence her consent did not matter.

So the Chandigarh administration went to the High Court, asking permission to terminate the pregnancy.

The High Court agreed, but when the case went to the Supreme Court for consent, in a landmark judgement, it defended her right to motherhood and ordered the Chandigarh administration to act as guardian.

Soon, the mother and the baby will be shifted to a home for the mentally challenged. However, the doctors say they are still not sure if the mother can take good care of the baby.

"She seems to be taking good care and looking happy also. But whether her happiness will last or how long will she take care that we cannot say. After all, she is only a child," said Dr Anju Gulia, from Sector 32 Hospital in Chandigarh.

"We have to provide extra support to her. Facilities at Ashreya are sufficient and adequate," said Dr Raj Bhadhur, Director, Mentally Challenged Home and Sector 32 Hospital, Chandigarh.

The Chandigarh police have three workers of Nari Niketan in their custody who are suspected of raping the mother. The child's DNA samples have been taken to identify the biological father.
 
 
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Tags: Chandigarh, girl, mentally retarded, pregnant
Comments
Posted by Sowdamini on Dec 16, 2009
It is a right that we all enjoy.No one inluding the Supreme court cannot rule out a person's a rigt to have a baby provided the mother can weigh real risks to her safety(health) during pregnacy and delivery and no harm anticipated to the baby during the delvery.A woman's qualities whether she will be a responsible mother to the baby or not is NOT a test for judging the woman to or not to have a baby.If mother is proved incapable of nurturing the baby leading to harm to the baby then the cort shold invole in protecting the baby and apply restricion orders om the mother . If a society applies a test on every woman of her ability and standards of 'motherhood responsibilities' I am afraid that soceity deprives itself of many scholars. Application of such laws are akin to Hitler's ideals. I am delighted with the Supreme Court Judgement.Good for the mother and many like her. I also think fathers and society must exhibit their resposibility in caring for the child.We are moving oiut of dark ages, Compassion and Care wehave to cultivare.
Posted by Yogesh on Dec 16, 2009
With due respect to the Supreme Court, the right to motherhood should be equated with the responsibility demanded of the same.
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