Karnataka notifies a statewide protocol on underage pregnancies, with a twenty four hour window for emergency medical examination

12 October 2026

The Karnataka government notified Standard Operating Procedures for Early Identification and Timely Response to Underage Pregnancies, applicable across the state, and Justice S. Sunil Dutt Yadav of the Karnataka High Court disposed of the petition that had led to it, saying the matter does not call for further adjudication. The petition under Article 226 was filed by the mother of a sixteen year old sexual assault survivor and is reported as 2026:KHC:56135. Under the protocol the police must facilitate emergency medical care and examination within 24 hours, and must register a Zero FIR where jurisdiction lies elsewhere. DNA samples and products of conception must be sent to the forensic laboratory within 7 days, or within 24 hours if the laboratory is in the same district. Doctors must give immediate care and must not delay treatment for an FIR, a legal requisition or a magisterial direction, and must perform prescribed termination procedures free of cost. For a pregnancy below 24 weeks no court or Child Welfare Committee order is required; above 24 weeks the Medical Board must give its opinion within 3 days when directed. Child Welfare Committees must facilitate within 1 week below 20 weeks and within 2 days of the Medical Board's or the court's opinion above 20 weeks. The Karnataka State Legal Services Authority must assign at least 5 lawyers each at Bengaluru, Dharwad and Kalaburagi, who must file urgent petitions within 48 hours of being informed in cases above 24 weeks. Advocate Swagatha Raha was Amicus Curiae and Additional Advocate General Prathima Honnapura appeared for the State.