New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Monday
refused to entertain a PIL questioning the claim of pharma
company that the emergency contraceptive pill prepared by it
can prevent unwanted pregnancies if taken within 72 hours
of unsafe sex.
The petition filed by Kerala-based charitable trust
Krupa Prolifiers, contended the emergency pill, i-pill,
manufcatured by pharma major Cipla, was not a contraceptive
pill but an abortion pill.
Advocate M P Raju, appearing for the trust, said since
the impact of the pill is after the fertilisation, it cannot
be considered as a contraceptive pill as it terminates
pregnancy.
He submitted pregnancy starts with fertilization and
under medical science if pills are taken to avoid pregnancy
after fertilization it is termed as miscarriage of embryo,
which ultimately is abortion.
The counsel said fertilization generally takes place
30 hours after the intercourse so it would be wrong to claim
that i-pill is an emergency contraceptive pill.
After giving a patient hearing, a Bench headed by
Chief Justice K G Balakrishnan, said it cannot pass any order
and asked the petitioner to explain the nitty gritty before
appropriate government authority.
The petitioner has challenged the Kerala High Court
order.
The trust had sought a ban on the sale and
distribution of i-pill without examining the contentions
raised in the PIL.
PTI