The National Commission for Women today said it would take up with the External Affairs Ministry the death of the Indian dentist Savita Halappanavar in Ireland after doctors allegedly refused to terminate her 17-week pregnancy on the ground that it was a 'Catholic country'.

"The Indian government should take action and I will take it up with the External Affairs Ministry on Monday that the Irish government ease the strict abortion rules on humanitarian grounds," NCW chairperson Mamata Sharma told PTI here.

"Two deaths in once instance; what humanitarian grounds are they (Irish government) talking about?" she asked on the sidelines of a workshop on 'Empowerment of Women - an instrument for poverty alleviation' here. Halappanavar, who was admitted to University Hospital Galway in west Ireland last month, died of septicaemia after doctors rejected her repeated pleas for termination of the 17 week-old miscarried foetus.

The MEA, meanwhile, has summoned the Irish envoy to South Block now.