Reproductive autonomy
Also called: Right to abortion · Topic: Fundamental Rights and Constitutional Remedies · NCERT: Beyond NCERT
Meaning
Reproductive autonomy is a woman's right to make her own choices about pregnancy, including whether to continue it. Courts treat it as part of liberty, dignity and privacy under Article 21. Because the choice belongs to her, the State cannot make that decision for her, though it can regulate it by law.
Example
In X v. Principal Secretary (2022), the Supreme Court held that unmarried women can also end a pregnancy up to the 24-week limit. Before this ruling, that option was available only to married women. The Court said that treating unmarried women differently had no fair basis.
Don't confuse with
- Passive euthanasia: also a choice about one's own body under Article 21, but it concerns withdrawing life support from a terminally ill patient, not pregnancy.
Related concepts
- K.S. Puttaswamy case
- Right to privacy
- Right to be forgotten
- Navtej Singh Johar case
- Joseph Shine case
- Supriyo Chakraborty case
- Right to marry of one's choice
- Passive euthanasia
- Living will
- Vishaka case