Bombay High Court takes suo motu action over long adoption delays after TOI report. Court seeks answers from CARA and Centre as 35,500 parents wait for just 2,400 children.
Mumbai: On Monday, the Bombay High Court took suo motu (on its own) action after reading a media report that talked about the long waiting time faced by people who want to adopt children in India.
The High Court took note of the report published by the Times of India (TOI), which was titled “Average adoption waiting period climbs to 3.5 years.”
According to the report, people in India who want to adopt small children and infants have to wait for an average of 3.5 years. This long wait has raised serious concerns.
The Bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice MS Karnik decided to look into the matter after reading the TOI report and asked for answers from the Union of India, the Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA), and other related authorities.
To help the Court understand the issue better, it has appointed two lawyers: Senior Advocate Dr Milind Sathe and Advocate Gaurav Shrivastava.
They have been made Amicus Curiae, which means they will help the Court by giving expert advice on the matter.
The next hearing of this case is set for June 23.
The TOI report, which was published on April 3, gave important information based on data from CARA as of March 31. The report mentioned that more than 35,500 people or families are registered as prospective adoptive parents (PAPs) in India.
ALSO READ: Supreme Court: “Legal Recognition of Adoption Must Consider Its Origin Date”
But the number of children available for adoption is very low — only about 2,400 children. Out of these, just 943 children are marked as “normal.”
The article also said that a parliamentary committee had made recommendations. They asked the government to review and update India’s adoption laws.
The committee also wanted the process to be made simpler and faster. According to the report, there are worries about the “dual legal system” for adoption in India, which makes the process confusing and slow. Another major concern is that very few people adopt older children or children with special needs.
The TOI report had highlighted: “Average adoption waiting period climbs to 3.5 years.”
It also quoted the CARA data as:
“There were over 35,500 registered PAPs and just 2,400 children available for adoption, 943 of whom were classified as ‘normal.’”
The report mentioned the findings of a parliamentary panel and stated:
“Recommendations to revisit adoption laws and streamline protocols, amid concerns over the dual legal system and the low adoption rate of older or special needs children.”
By taking suo motu cognizance, the Bombay High Court has shown serious concern over the long delays in the adoption process in India.
With the next hearing scheduled for June 23, people are hoping that the Court’s action will bring positive changes in the adoption system, making it quicker and smoother for both children and prospective parents.
Click Here to Read More Reports On Adoption Case
FOLLOW US FOR MORE LEGAL UPDATES ON YOUTUBE
