Sanika Deshpande –
Published On: November 1, 2021 at 16:30 IST.
The Supreme Court of the United States of America is taking challenges to Texas Law which has virtually ended abortion in the nation’s 2nd largest state after six weeks of pregnancy.
Justices will hear a separate challenge to the previous decisions in Roe v. Wade and Planned Parenthood v. Casey in a case over Mississippi’s ban on abortion. These arguments are to be set for December 01.
The law has been in effect since September 2021. The ban, which was signed into law by Gov. Greg Abbott, prohibits abortion after any cardiac activity detected in a fetus, usually around six weeks and before some women know they are pregnant.
The laws do not make exceptions for rape or incest.
At least 12 other states have passed early-pregnancy bans, but they have all been prohibited from taking effect.
The Texas law, however, deputizes private people to sue anybody who performs or helps and abets an abortion, rather than having state personnel enforce it. They are eligible for at least $10,000 if they are successful. Abortion providers cannot be sued under the legislation.
The law’s framework threatens abortion providers with significant financial penalties if they break it. Once the cardiac activity discovered, clinics across the state stopped performing abortions.
Also Read: SC of US allows Texas law banning Abortion After six weeks of pregnancy
Texas Abortion Law appeal made in US Apex Court
