The Supreme Court on Friday said it is high time that the process for adoption of children in India is simplified [Temple of Healing v Union of India]..A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, AS Bopanna and JB Pardiwala made the suggestion while hearing a plea by NGO Temple of Healing seeking formulation of an adoption scheme by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.The Court noted that lakhs of children were waiting to be adopted even as couples are in queue for the same for many years. "This is an important matter and it is a genuine plea. Lakhs and lakhs of children are waiting for adoption and people, couples cannot adopt for three to four years!".Justice DY Chandrachud went on to suggest that the Central government to have someone in the Ministry meet the petitioner, since he had some valid points on the issue. "Since petitioner has concrete suggestions, we ask ministry to depute a senior officer to meet the petitioner so that the suggestions by petitioner could be looked into," the Court recorded. .With this, the Central government's response on the issue was called for within three weeks."Let the court be apprised on affidavit as to how the Centre has simplified the adoption related process in India.".In a bid to simplify the adoption process, the Delhi High Court had also last year asked the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development to lay down a permanent mechanism for inter-country adoption under the Hindu Adoptions & Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956..[Read our live-coverage of the hearing below]
The Supreme Court on Friday said it is high time that the process for adoption of children in India is simplified [Temple of Healing v Union of India]..A bench of Justices DY Chandrachud, AS Bopanna and JB Pardiwala made the suggestion while hearing a plea by NGO Temple of Healing seeking formulation of an adoption scheme by the Ministry of Women and Child Development.The Court noted that lakhs of children were waiting to be adopted even as couples are in queue for the same for many years. "This is an important matter and it is a genuine plea. Lakhs and lakhs of children are waiting for adoption and people, couples cannot adopt for three to four years!".Justice DY Chandrachud went on to suggest that the Central government to have someone in the Ministry meet the petitioner, since he had some valid points on the issue. "Since petitioner has concrete suggestions, we ask ministry to depute a senior officer to meet the petitioner so that the suggestions by petitioner could be looked into," the Court recorded. .With this, the Central government's response on the issue was called for within three weeks."Let the court be apprised on affidavit as to how the Centre has simplified the adoption related process in India.".In a bid to simplify the adoption process, the Delhi High Court had also last year asked the Union Ministry of Women & Child Development to lay down a permanent mechanism for inter-country adoption under the Hindu Adoptions & Maintenance Act (HAMA), 1956..[Read our live-coverage of the hearing below]