GK Question

Answer: 21

Suchita Srivastava (2009) reproductive rights and autonomy: (a) Context: Petition regarding termination of pregnancy for mentally challenged woman; broader issue of reproductive autonomy, (b) Supreme Court holding: (i) Reproductive choices part of personal liberty, privacy, dignity under Article 21, (ii) Women have right to make decisions about pregnancy, childbirth, family planning without state interference, (iii) Medical Termination of Pregnancy Act, 1971 operationalizes right to safe, legal abortion within gestational limits, (c) Applications: (i) Access: Ensuring availability, affordability, accessibility of reproductive healthcare, especially for marginalized groups, (ii) Quality: Standards for safe abortion, maternal care, contraception counseling, (iii) Non-discrimination: Ensuring reproductive rights for all, regardless of marital status, caste, class, disability, (d) Subsequent developments: (i) MTP Act amendments (2021): Expanded gestational limits, included unmarried women, recognized reproductive autonomy, (ii) Emerging jurisprudence: Courts increasingly recognize reproductive justice as part of substantive equality, dignity, (e) Rationale: (i) Dignity: Reproductive autonomy essential for women's dignity, self-determination, (ii) Equality: Reproductive rights enable women's equal participation in social, economic, political life, (iii) Health: Safe reproductive healthcare essential for maternal health, child welfare, (f) Illustrates transformative constitutionalism: Article 21 interpreted to include reproductive autonomy; statutory framework operationalizes rights with calibrated safeguards balancing autonomy, health, public interest.