A federal judge ruled on Friday that two Tennessee abortion clinics can remain open for now. US District Judge Kevin Sharp has issued a temporary restraining order as per which the clinics can continue to work.

As per a new law, abortion clinics should be licensed as ambulatory surgical treatment centers. The clinics argued in a hearing that they would not be able to obtain the licenses in time so that they can comply with the new law.

The law applies to the Bristol Regional Women's Center in Bristol and the Women's Center in Nashville. Judge Sharp said that these clinics have been providing safe abortion care to Tennessee women for decades.

It was important to have restraining order as otherwise, the clinics and their patients will suffer irreparable harm. The ruling is the latest turn with regard to the matter taking place in courts and in statehouses across the nation about the laws that levy limits on women's ability to seek an abortion.

As many as 21 states have enacted 267 abortion restrictions since 2011, stated the Guttmacher Institute, a New York-based research group.

The Tennessee law is scheduled to go in effect from Wednesday. To get the license from the state health department, existing clinics should submit proper architectural plans, renovate their buildings and then clear a site inspection, which will be scheduled 30 to 45 days in advance.

However, the Tennessee Department of Health did not make license application available until June 16. "It is simply not possible to complete this process in the time available before the law takes effect", said Judge Sharp.