High Court: Wife Can Abort Without Husband's Consent, 'Only Her Will Matters'

• Punjab and Haryana High Court ruled a married woman does not need her husband's consent for abortion.
• The court emphasized that "only the woman's will matters" in such decisions, upholding reproductive rights.
• A 21-year-old woman, estranged from her husband and undergoing divorce, sought abortion for her 16-week pregnancy.
• PGIMER Chandigarh medical board confirmed her fitness for abortion, noting her depression due to divorce proceedings.
• Justice Suvir Sehgal's bench cited the MTP Act, allowing termination for pregnancies under 20 weeks, and granted permission.

Why It Matters: High Court affirms a woman's sole right to decide on abortion, independent of husband's consent.