New Delhi, July 4 -- A division bench of the Delhi high court on Thursday overturned a single judge's June 30 order allowing a 16-year-old survivor of two separate sexual assaults to terminate her 26-week pregnancy, and directed her to continue the same till 34 weeks, observing that permitting termination of a viable foetus would amount to foeticide, which is a criminal offence. Under the Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP) Act, abortions are permitted up to 20 weeks. A bench of chief justice DK Upadhyay and justice Anish Dayal emphasised that the law sanctions termination of pregnancy beyond 24 weeks only in cases involving substantial foetal abnormalities, or when the continuation of the pregnancy poses a grave risk to the woman's health. Even though the court called the case unfortunate, it ruled that it was the state's responsibility to protect lives in all forms. The court passed the order after the victim agreed to continue with her pregnancy in light of the adverse findings and suggestions of the AIIMS medical board and the submissions of one of the members of the medical board. The medical board in its July 1 report concluded that inducing delivery for termination of pregnancy at 26 weeks had the likelihood of adversely affecting the girl's capability of conceiving in the future and result in the child being born with several neurological morbidities, with only 70% survival rate. The board thus suggested that continuation of pregnancy for a further period of four to six weeks, would result in a "safer" termination. The medical board had submitted that advance termination of pregnancy would amount to foeticide, whereas termination after 34 weeks would amount to delivery. Agreeing with the member, the bench remarked, "To terminate the pregnancy (at this stage of gestation) will involve foeticide. It amounts to an offence in criminal law. Don't ask us to be a party in that...Law does not sanction that. It would amount to killing." It added, "Unfortunate things happen to everyone but one has to learn to live with it. It's unfortunate but beyond the control of everybody. Life in any form is very, very important. Every endeavour must be taken by the state to protect lives." Modifying the single judge's order, the high court bench said: "...We modify the order passed by the single judge and direct that the same shall not be given effect to." The girl was allegedly sexually assaulted twice by different men last year and in March this year. She did not reveal either incident until June 21, when a medical consultation confirmed that she was 26 weeks' pregnant. She then informed her parents, following which a rape case was filed. On June 30, a bench of justice Manoj Jain directed AIIMS to terminate her pregnancy on July 1. AIIMS approached the division bench challenging the same. The matter will be next heard on October 15....