Supreme Court Questions Female Genital Mutilation Amid Constitutional Challenge
Published: May 7, 2026
The Supreme Court on Thursday scrutinized the practice of female genital mutilation in the Dawoodi Bohra community, with justices indicating it could be struck down on public health and bodily autonomy grounds. The court is hearing petitions challenging the practice under constitutional rights, with arguments centering on minors' consent and religious freedoms.
The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over the practice of female genital mutilation (FGM) among sections of the Dawoodi Bohra community, with a nine-judge constitution bench indicating that the practice could be invalidated on grounds of public health under Article 25 of the Constitution. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing petitioners, argued that the procedure, performed on girls as young as seven, causes irreversible harm to sexual and reproductive health and violates bodily autonomy, particularly as minors cannot give informed consent.