Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Union of
India & Ors.
March 15, 2019
Background
Political Background
International background-
Judicial Background
Facts
1. Specific guidelines were needed for adoption.
Issues Raised
Arguments
Peitioner’s argument
4. It was also argued that the court should direct the states and UT
under JJ Act, 2000 to implement Section 41 of the Act and to follow
CARA guidelines.
Respondent’s argument
Judgment
It will now be relevant to take note of the stand of the Union of India.
Way back on 15th My, 2006 the Union in its counter affidavit had
informed the court that prospective parents, irrespective of their
religious background, are free to access the provisions of the Act for
adoption of Children after following the procedure prescribed. The
progress on the ground as laid before the court by the Union of India
through the Ministry of Women and Child Development may also be
noticed at this stage.
Reliance has placed in this regard on the views of the Bombay and
Kerala High Court in re: Manueal Theodore and Philip Alfred Malvin
v. Y. J. Gonsalvis & Ors. Respectively.
Held- The court is of the view that the present is not appropriate
time and stage where the right to adopt and the right to be
encompassed by Article 21 of the Constitution. We hardly need to
reiterate the well settled principles of Judicial Restraint, which
requires the Court not ot deal with issues of Constitutional
interpretation unless such an exercise is but unavoidable.
Case comments
No dobut that Adoption is a secular concept. It gives birth to a huge
responsibility on adoptive parents and also it is a big change for
adoptive child. In our society religion plays a very big role in each
and every aspect. In adoption, Adoptive Child will follow all the
religion, customs, traditions, values of the adoptive family as a
secular concept which is different from the muslim personal law. First
of all in case a Hindu Boy being adopted by a muslim family, he
won’t be able to enjoy the secular benefits. It is unfair with that
Adoptive Child who is not able to understand the further
consequences of Adoption. It adversely affects the right of that
Adoptive Child. Second a new born baby can be shaped to any form
but if a child above the age of 5 years with Hindu Practices being
adopted by a Muslim family then he will himself feel very
uncomfortable. It might be a possibility that the Adoptive family
won’t be able to accept that child completely because of his or her
religion which makes it unfair for the child. Therefore, it is important
even to consider the religion in adoption procedure. We should
neither neglect the religion of Adoptive Child nor of a Adoptive
Parents.