Amrik Singh and Others v. Union Territory of Chandigarh Through Its Principal Secretary and Others

INoTHEoPUNJABoANDoHARYANAoHIGHoCOURToAToo CHANDIGARHo o 105oo o o o o o o o o oooCWP-26747-2021o DateoofoDecision:o19.12.2023o o AMRIKoSINGHoANDoOTHERSo ...oPetitionerso VERSUSo UNIONoTERRITORYoOFoCHANDIGARHoTHROUGHoITSo PRINCIPALoSECRETARYoANDoOTHERSo o ...oRespondentso CORAM:o HON'BLEoMR.oJUSTICEoVINODoS.oBHARDWAJ.o o Present:o Mr.oGauravoChopra,oSr.oAdvocateowitho o o Mr.oReshabhoBajaj,oMr.oAnuragoChopra,oo o o Ms.oSeeratoSaldi,oMs.oGaurioC.oKaushal,oo o o Ms.oHimanioJamwaloandoMr.oVardaanoSetho o Advocatesoforotheopetitioners.o o o Mr.oJaiviroS.ooChandail,oAddl.oStandingoCounselowitho o Ms.oJyotioKumari,oAdvocateofororespondentsoNo.1otoo3.o o o Mr.oVijayoKumaroJindal,oSr.oAdvocate-AmicusoCuriaeowitho o Mr.oPankajoGautam,oAdvocate.o o o NoneofororespondentoNo.4.o ****o VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ,oJ.o(ORAL)o o o Prayeromadeoinotheopresentopetitionoisoforoseekingoquashingoofo Memoo No.DC/SR/2021/1458o datedo 19.10.2021o (Annexureo P-6)o wherebyo respondento No.3-o Sub-Registraro ofo Documents,o Chandigarho directedo theo petitionerso too approacho ao competento Courto ono theo representationo datedo

16.08.2021osubmittedobyotheopetitionersoandohasonotoregisteredotheoAdoptiono Deedodatedo07.06.2021o(AnnexureoP-4)opresentedobeforeohim.o CWP-26747-2021o -2-o 2023:PHHC:164341o o o Learnedocounseloforotheopetitionersocontendsothatotheopetitionero No.3owasosubjectedotoorapeobyorespondentoNo.4oinotheomonthoofoMayo2020o whenosheowaso13oyearsoofoage.oTheosaidorespondentoNo.4ohadothreatenedotookillo theo petitionero No.3o (minor)o ifo sheo informedo anyoneo abouto theo rape.o Beingo underofear,osheocouldonototelloaboutotheosaidoincidentotooanyone.oThereowas,o however,oaoconstantopainoinoheroabdomen,oforowhichosheowasotakenotooPGIobyo heroparents,owhereoitowasoinformedothatosheowasopregnantoasoanooutcomeoofo rapeocommittedouponoher.oOnobeingoquestioned,opetitioneroNo.3oinformedohero parentso thato sheo waso subjectedo too rapeo byo respondento No.4o ando abouto theo threat.oImmediateoactionowasotakenoandotheomatterowasoreportedotootheopolice,o whereupono FIRo No.06o datedo 14.01.2021o waso registeredo ato Policeo Stationo Sectoro19,oChandigarhoagainstorespondentoNo.4oforotheocommissionoofooffenceo undero Sectiono 376(3)o ando 506o ofo IPCo ando Sectiono 6o ofo theo Protectiono ofo ChildrenofromoSexualoOffencesoAct,o2012.oTheosaidocaseohasonowoculminatedo intoo ao judgmento ofo convictiono againsto respondento No.4o ando sentencedo too undergoo20oyears.oo o o Sinceotheoknowledgeowithoregardotootheopregnancyowasoacquiredo onlyoatotheofinalostage,oitowasodeemedomedicallyounsafeoforopetitioneroNo.3otoo terminateo theo consequentialo pregnancy.o Ao babyo girlowasoborno toopetitionero No.3o ono 02.03.2021o whoo iso namedo aso (Rxxxx-nameo concealed).o Sinceo theo motheroisoherselfoaominoroandoisonotoinoaocapacityotootakeocareoofotheochildoato suchoaotenderoageoandoevenootherwise,otheosaidochildowouldohaveonotoonlyobeeno stigmaticoforoherofutureoprospectsobutoalsooaoconstantoreminderoofotheophysicalo assaultoandooutrageoofomodestyocommittedouponoher.oItowouldohaveonotoonlyo causedohugeosocialoincarcerationoandoemotionalostressoonotheopetitioneroNo.o3o CWP-26747-2021o -3-o 2023:PHHC:164341o butowouldoalsoorequireohugeofinancialodrainoonotheirolimitedofiscaloresources.o Theosameowouldonotohaveoservedogoodoforoherowellobeing,oherodevelopmento andoforoherofutureogrowth,oprospects,ocareeroandolife.oHence,owithotheoconsento ofoheroparentso(petitionersoNo.1oando2),otheopetitioneroNo.3odecidedotoogiveohero childoinoadoption.oo o o TheopetitionersoNo.4oando5oareomarriedosinceo1997oandohaveooneo sononamedoJagtaroSinghoagedo11oyearsoatotheotimeoofofilingoofotheocase.oHeoiso sufferingofromoaogeneticodisorderoofo'spinalomuscularoatrophy'oandotheyoalsoo haveooneodaughteronamelyo'Mehar'owhoowasobornoono19.11.2021othroughotheo processoofosurrogacy.oTheogeneticodisorderoofospinalomuscularoatrophyoleadsotoo anoimpairedocentralonervousosystemoandolimitedocognitiveoability.oFurther,oono accountoofotheofetaloDNAoofotheopetitioneroNo.4ohavingocertainoabnormalities,o itomakesoitohighlyolikelyothatofetusoofopetitioneroNo.5oisoalsooaffectedowitho spinalomuscularoatrophyoandothatoanyobiologicalochildobornotoothemoisolikelyotoo sufferofromotheoaforesaidodisease.oAocopyoofotheosaidoDNAoAnalysisoReporto hasobeenoattachedoaso(AnnexureoP-1).oTheoabovesaidopetitionersoNo.4oando5o hadotwoochildrenoearlieroi.e.ooneogirlochildonamelyoSimratoandooneoboyonamelyo Gurnoor,o whoo wereo sufferingo fromo genetico disordero ofo 'spinalo muscularo atrophy'.o Theo girlo childo passedo awayo dueo too severeo pneumoniao leadingo too respiratoryofailureoono21.12.2005obeforeoattainingotheoageoofo7oyearsoandosono Gurnooroalsoopassedoawayodueotoocardiacoarrestoono20.09.2013obeforeoattainingo theoageoofo12oyears.oCopiesoofotheodeathocertificatesohaveoalsoobeenoattachedo witho theo presento petition.o Despiteo theo childo beingo conceivedo througho surrogacy,osheoisolikelyotooinheritotheoDNAodisordersoandotheochancesoofohero CWP-26747-2021o -4-o 2023:PHHC:164341o o o ThatotheoparentsoofopetitioneroNo.3o(minororapeovictim)o(beingo petitioneroNos.1oando2oherein)oareoSewadarsoinoaoGurudwara.oTheopetitionerso No.4oando5,obeingoawareoofotheoabovesaidoincident,oexpressedotheirowillingnesso tooadoptotheogirlochildonamelyoRxxxxobornoono02.03.2021oforotheirowellobeingo aso wello aso foro theo wello beingo ofo theo minoro child,o whoo deserveso too liveo ao dignifiedo lifeo witho allo amenitieso ando facilities,o love,o careo ando respect.o Theo partieso beingo wello knowno too eacho other,o theo processo ofo adoptiono waso undertakeno ando petitionerso No.1otoo3o decidedotoogiveo theo minoro Rxxxxoino adoptiono too petitionerso No.4o ando 5.o Accordingly,o ano Adoptiono Deedo waso executedoono07.06.2021obetweenotheopetitionersoNo.1oando2o(alsooforoandoono behalfoofominoropetitioneroNo.3);oandopetitionersoNo.4oando5.oTheorequisiteo ceremoniesowereoperformedoandotheochildohasobeenogivenoinoadoptionotootheo petitionersoNo.4oando5oandosinceothen,osheohasobeenoinotheirocontinuousocareo andoprotection.oItowasothereafter,othatotheopetitionersoNo.4oando5owereoalsoo blessedowithoaogirlochildonamelyoMehar,oono19.11.2021othroughosurrogacy.oo o o o Beo thato aso ito may,o theo Adoptiono Deedo datedo 07.06.2021o waso presentedo too theo officeo ofo respondento No.3o i.e.o theo Sub-Registraro ofo Documents,o Chandigarho ono 16.08.2021o foro registrationo thereofo aso pero theo RegistrationoAct,o1908,owithoutotheoconsentoofotheobiologicalofatheroofoRxxxxo i.e.o accused-respondento No.4,o whoo iso undergoingo sentenceo ono accounto ofo convictiono ino theo aforesaido rapeo case.o Despiteo theo Sub-Registraro ofo Documents,o Chandigarho havingo beeno informedo abouto theo unfortunateo circumstancesoinowhichotheochildowasobornoandotheoAdoptionoDeedoisobeingo executedobyotheopetitioneroNo.3owithoutotheoconsentooforespondentoNo.4,otheo CWP-26747-2021o -5-o 2023:PHHC:164341o respondento No.3o refusedo too registero theo saido Adoptiono Deedo foro wanto ofo consento fromo theo biologicalo father.o Ao representationo waso submittedo byo theo petitionerso ono 16.08.2021o too theo Sub-Registrar,o however,o theo sameo waso declinedovideoorderodatedo19.10.2021owithoutoassigningoanyoreasonsoandobyo givingoaodirectionotootheopetitionersothatotheyoshouldoapproachotheocompetento Courtoofolawoforotheoneedful.oHavingobeenoleftowithonoootheroremedy,otheo petitionersohaveoapproachedothisoCourt.oo o o Video ordero datedo 02.09.2023,o Mr.o V.K.o Jindal,o Advocateo waso appointedoasoAmicusoCuriaeotooassistotheoCourtoinothisocase.oAoreportowasoalsoo soughtofromotheodepartmentoofoSocialoWelfare,oU.T.oChandigarhoregardingotheo socio-economicostatusoofotheopetitionersoalongwithotheorecommendationoasotoo whetherotheogivingoawayoofochildoRxxxxoinoadoptionotootheopetitionersoNo.4o ando5owouldobeoinobestointerestoofotheochildooronotovideoorderodatedo22.11.2023.o o o Ao statuso reporto haso beeno filedo ono behalfo ofo respondento No.1-o througho Ms.o Palikao Arora,o Director,o Socialo Welfare,o Womeno ando Childo Development,oChandigarhoAdministration,oasoperowhich,otheosocio-economico statuso ofo theo petitionerso No.4o ando 5o haso beeno verifiedo ando thato theo saido petitionerso meeto theo socio-economico criteriono foro takingo theo saido childo ino adoption.oItoisoaverredoinotheoabovesaidoreportobyotheoDepartmentoofoSocialo Welfare,oWomenoandoChildoDevelopment,oChandigarhoAdministrationothatotheo needsoofotheochildocanobeoeasilyometobyotheopetitionersoNo.4oando5oandothato bothotheosaidopetitionersoareohappyoandohealthyomindedocouple,owhoohaveobeeno extendingoallodueocareotootheirochildren.oo o o Theopartiesohaveobeenoheardoatolengthoandotheodocumentsohaveo CWP-26747-2021 -6-2023:PHHC:164341 o o Be'oreoproceedin!o'urtheroinotheo%atter,oitowou"dobeoessentia"otoo re'ero too variouso statutor(o provisionso whicho deter%ineo ando dea"o witho !uardianshipoandoadoptions.o=heore"evantostatutor(oprovisionsoareoe8tractedoaso under:o "CONSTITUTION OF INDIAo Article 15. Prohibition of discrimination on grounds of religion, race, caste, sex or place of birth. XXX XXX XXX

(3) Nothing in this article shall prevent the State from making any special provision for women and children. XXX XXX XXX

¶39Certain principles of policy to be followed by the State-XXX XXX XXX

(e) that the health and strength of workers, men and women, and the tender age of children are not abused and that citi zens are not forced by economic necessity to enter avoca tions unsuited to their age or strength;

(f) that children are given opportunities and facilities to de velop in a healthy manner and in conditions of freedom and dignity and that childhood and youth are protected against exploitation and against moral and material abandonment. XXX XXX XXX

Article 45 - "The State shall endeavour to provide early childhood care and education for all children until they complete the age of six years." CWP-26747-2021o -7-o 2023:PHHC:164341o Articleo47oofoTheoConstitutionoofoIndiaoisooneoofotheoDirectiveo PrinciplesowhichodirectsotheoStateotooraiseotheoleveloofonutritiono andotheostandardoofolivingoandotooimproveopublicohealthoasoamongo itsoprimaryodutiesoand,oinoparticular,otheoStateoshalloendeavourotoo bringo aboutoprohibitionoofo intoxicatingo drinkso ando drugso whicho areoinjuriousotoohealth.o o THEoHINDUoMINORITYoANDoGUARDIANSHIPo ACT,o1956o o

4.oo Definitions.—InothisoAct,―oo

(a)oo "minor"omeansoaopersonowhoohasonotocompletedotheoageoofo eighteenoyears;oo

(b)oo "guardian"omeansoaopersonohavingotheocareoofotheopersonoofo ao minoro oro ofo hiso propertyo oro ofo botho hiso persono ando property,oandoincludes―o

(i)oo aonaturaloguardian,oo

(ii)oo ao guardiano appointedo byo theo willo ofo theo minor'so fatherooromother,oo

(iii)oo aoguardianoappointedoorodeclaredobyoaocourt,oandoo

(iv)oo aopersonoempoweredotooactoasosuchobyoorounderoanyo enactmentorelatingotooanyoCourtoofowards.oo

(c)oo "naturaloguardian"omeansoanyoofotheoguardiansomentionedo inosectiono6.oo

5.oo Over-ridingo effecto ofo Act.―Saveo aso otherwiseo expresslyo providedoinothisoAct,―oo

(a)oo anyotext,oruleoorointerpretationoofoHinduoLawooroanyocustomo orousageoasopartoofothatolawoinoforceoimmediatelyobeforeotheo commencementoofothisoActoShalloceaseotoohaveoeffectowitho respectotooanyomatteroforowhichoprovisionoisomadeoinothiso Act.oo

(b)oo anyo othero lawo ino forceo immediatelyo beforeo theo commencementoofothisoActoshalloceaseotoohaveoeffectoinosoo CWP-26747-2021o -8-o 2023:PHHC:164341o faroasoitoisoinconsistentowithoanyoofotheoprovisionsocontainedo inothisoAct.oo

6.oo NaturaloguardiansoofoaoHinduominor.―o TheonaturaloguardiansoofoaoHinduominor;oinorespectoofotheo minor'sopersonoasowelloasoinorespectoofotheominor'sopropertyo (excludingo hiso oro hero undividedo interesto ino jointo familyo property),oare―oo

(a)oo inotheocaseoofoaoboyooroanounmarriedogirl―theofather,o andoafterohim,otheomother:oprovidedothatotheocustodyo ofoaominorowhoohasonotocompletedotheoageoofofiveo yearsoshalloordinarilyobeowithotheomother;oo

(b)oo inotheocaseoofoanoillegitimateoboyooroanoillegitimateo unmarriedogirl―theomother,oandoafteroher,otheofather;oo

(c)oo inotheocaseoofoaomarriedogirl―theohusband:oProvidedo thatonoopersonoshallobeoentitledotooactoasotheonaturalo guardiano ofo ao minoro undero theo provisionso ofo thiso section―oo

(a)o ifoheohasoceasedotoobeoaoHindu,ooroo

(b)oo ifoheohasocompletelyoandofinallyorenouncedotheo worldobyobecomingoaohermito(vanaprastha)ooro anoascetico(yatioorosanyasi).oExplanation.―Ino thiso section,o theo expressionso "father"o ando "mother"odoonotoincludeoaostep-fatheroandoao step-mother.oo XXXXo XXXXo XXXXo

8.o Powersoofonaturaloguardian.―o

(1)oo TheonaturaloguardianoofoaoHinduominorohasopower,osubjecto tootheoprovisionsoofothisosection,otoodooalloactsowhichoareo necessaryoororeasonableoandoproperoforotheobenefitoofotheo minorooroforotheorealization,oprotectionoorobenefitoofotheo minor'soestate;obutotheoguardianocanoinonoocaseobindotheo CWP-26747-2021o -9-o 2023:PHHC:164341o

(2)oo Theo naturalo guardiano shallo not,o withouto theo previouso permissionoofotheocourt,―oo

(a)oo mortgageo oro charge,o oro transfero byo sale,o gift,o exchangeoorootherwise,oanyopartoofotheoimmovableo propertyoofotheominor;ooroo

(b)oo leaseoanyopartoofosuchopropertyoforoaotermoexceedingo fiveo yearso oro foro aotermo extendingo moreo thano oneo yearobeyondotheodateoonowhichotheominorowilloattaino majority.oo

(3)oo Anyodisposaloofoimmovableopropertyobyoaonaturaloguardian,o inocontraventionoofosub-sectiono(1)oorosub-sectiono(2),oiso voidableo ato theo instanceo ofo theo minoro oro anyo persono claimingounderohim.oo

(4)oo Noocourtoshallograntopermissionotootheonaturaloguardianotoo dooanyoofotheoactsomentionedoinosubsectiono(2)oexceptoino caseoofonecessityooroforoanoevidentoadvantageotootheominoro

(5)oo Theo Guardianso ando Wardso Act,o 1890o (8o ofo 1890),o shallo applyotooandoinorespectoofoanoapplicationoforoobtainingotheo permissionoofotheocourtounderosub-sectiono(2)oinoallorespectso asoifoitowereoanoapplicationoforoobtainingotheopermissionoofo theocourtounderosectiono29oofothatoAct,oandoinoparticular―oo

(a)oo proceedingsoinoconnectionowithotheoapplicationoshallo beodeemedotoobeoproceedingsounderothatoActowithino theomeaningoofosectiono4Aothereof;oo

(b)oo theocourtoshalloobserveotheoprocedureoandohaveotheo powersospecifiedoinosub-sectionso(2),o(3)oando(4)oofo sectiono31oofothatoAct;oandoo

(c)oo ano appealo shallo lieo fromo ano ordero ofo theo courto refusingopermissionotootheonaturaloguardianotoodooanyo ofo theo Actso mentionedo ino sub-sectiono (2)o ofo thiso sectionotootheocourtotoowhichoappealsoordinarilyolieo CWP-26747-2021o -10-o 2023:PHHC:164341o

(6)oo Ino thiso section,o "Court"o meanso theo cityo civilo courto oro ao districtocourtooroaocourtoempoweredounderosectiono4Aoofotheo GuardiansoandoWardsoAct,o1890o(8oofo1890),owithinotheo localolimitsoofowhoseojurisdictionotheoimmovableopropertyo inorespectoofowhichotheoapplicationoisomadeoisosituate,oando whereo theo immovableo propertyo iso situateo withino theo jurisdictionoofomoreothanooneosuchocourt,omeansotheocourto withinotheolocalolimitsoofowhoseojurisdictionoanyoportionoofo theopropertyoisosituate.oo XXXXo XXXXo XXXXo

13.oo Welfareoofominorotoobeoparamountoconsideration.—o

(1)oo Ino theo appointmento oro declarationo ofo anyo persono aso guardianoofoaoHinduominorobyoaocourt,otheowelfareoofotheo minoroshallobeotheoparamountoconsideration.oo

(2)oo Noopersonoshallobeoentitledotootheoguardianshipobyovirtueoofo theo provisionso ofo thiso Acto oro ofo anyo lawo relatingo too guardianshipoinomarriageoamongoHindus,oifotheocourtoisoofo opiniono thato hiso oro hero guardianshipo willo noto beo foro theo welfareoofotheominor.o THEoHINDUoADOPTIONSoANDoMAINTENANCEo ACT,o1956o o "6.oo Requisiteso ofo ao valido adoption.—o Noo adoptiono shallo beo validounless—oo

(i)oo theopersonoadoptingohasotheocapacity,oandoalsootheo right,otootakeoinoadoption;oo

(ii)oo theopersonogivingoinoadoptionohasotheocapacityotoodoo so;oo

(iii)oo theo persono adoptedo iso capableo ofo beingo takeno ino adoption;oandoo

(iv)oo theoadoptionoisomadeoinocomplianceowithotheoothero conditionsomentionedoinothisoChapter.oo XXXXXo o XXXXXo o XXXXXo o CWP-26747-2021 -11-2023:PHHC:164341

¶9Persons capable of giving in adoption.―

(1) No person except the father or mother or the guardian of a child shall have the capacity to give the child in adoption.

(2) Subject to the provisions of sub section (4), the father or the mother, if alive, shall have equal right to give a son or daughter in adoption: Provided that such right shall not be exercised by either of them save with the consent of the other unless one of them has completely and finally renounced the world or has ceased to be a Hindu or has been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind.

(3) * * * * *

(4) Where both the father and mother are dead or have completely and finally renounced the world or have abandoned the child or have been declared by a court of competent jurisdiction to be of unsound mind or where the parentage of the child is not known, the guardian of the child may give the child in adoption with the previous permission of the court to any person including the guardian himself.

(5) Before granting permission to a guardian under sub section (4), the court shall be satisfied that the adoption will be for the welfare of the child, due consideration being for this purpose given to the wishes of the child having regard to the age and understanding of the child and that the applicant for permission has not received or agreed to receive and that no person has made or given or agreed to make or give to the applicant any payment or reward in consideration of the adoption except such CWP-26747-2021 -12-2023:PHHC:164341 Explanation.―For the purposes of this section―

(i) the expressions "father" and "mother" do not include an adoptive father and an adoptive mother;

(ia) "guardian" means a person having the care of the person of a child or of both his person and property and includes―

(a) a guardian appointed by the will of the child's father or mother, and

(b) a guardian appointed or declared by a court; and

(ii) "court" means the city civil court or a district court within the local limits of whose jurisdiction the child to be adopted ordinarily resides.

¶10Persons who may be adopted.― No person shall be capable of being taken in adoption unless the following conditions are fulfilled, namely:―

(i) he or she is a Hindu;

(ii) he or she has not already been adopted;

(iii) he or she has not been married, unless there is a custom or usage applicable to the parties which permits persons who are married being taken in adoption;

(iv) he or she has not completed the age of fifteen years, unless there is a custom or usage applicable to the parties which permits persons who have completed the age of fifteen years being taken in adoption.

¶11Other conditions for a valid adoption.― In every adoption, the following conditions must be complied with:―

(i) if the adoption is of a son, the adoptive father or mother by whom the adoption is made must not have CWP-26747-2021 -13-2023:PHHC:164341 a Hindu son, son's son or son's son's son (whether by legitimate blood relationship or by adoption) living at the time of adoption;

(ii) if the adoption is of a daughter, the adoptive father or mother by whom the adoption is made must not have a Hindu daughter or son's daughter (whether by legitimate blood relationship or by adoption) living at the time of adoption;

(iii) if the adoption is by a male and the person to be adopted is a female, the adoptive father is at least twenty one years older than the person to be adopted;

(iv) if the adoption is by a female and the person to be adopted is a male, the adoptive mother is at least twenty one years older than the person to be adopted;

(v) the same child may not be adopted simultaneously by two or more persons;

(vi) the child to be adopted must be actually given and taken in adoption by the parents or guardian concerned or under their authority with intent to transfer the child from the family of its birth or in the case of an abandoned child or a child whose parentage is not known, from the place or family where it has been brought up to the family of its adoption: Provided that the performance of datta homam shall not be essential to the validity of an adoption." THE JUVENILE JUSTICE (CARE AND PROTECTION OF CHILDREN) ACT, 2015.

¶2Definitions In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires,— CWP-26747-2021 -14-2023:PHHC:164341

(1) "abandoned child" means a child deserted by his biological or adoptive parents or guardians, who has been declared as abandoned by the Committee after due inquiry;

(2) "adoption" means the process through which the adopted child is permanently separated from his biological parents and becomes the lawful child of his adoptive parents with all the rights, privileges and responsibilities that are attached to a biological child; XXX XXX XXX

(9) "best interest of child" means the basis for any decision taken regarding the child, to ensure fulfillment of his basic rights and needs, identity, social well being and physical, emotional and intellectual development; XXX XXX XXX

(14) "child in need of care and protection" means a child— XXX XXX XXX

(v) who has a parent or guardian and such parent or guardian is found to be unfit or incapacitated, by the Committee or the Board, to care for and protect the safety and well being of the child; or

(vi) who does not have parents and no one is willing to take care of, or whose parents have abandoned or surrendered him; or XXX XXX XXX

(viii) who has been or is being or is likely to be abused, tortured or exploited for the purpose of sexual abuse or illegal acts; or CWP-26747-2021 -15-2023:PHHC:164341

(31) "guardian" in relation to a child, means his natural guardian or any other person having, in the opinion of the Committee or, as the case may be, the Board, the actual charge of the child, and recognised by the Committee or, as the case may be, the Board as a guardian in the course of proceedings;

(42) "orphan" means a child—

(i) who is without biological or adoptive parents or legal guardian; or

(ii) whose legal guardian is not willing to take, or capable of taking care of the child; XXX XXX XXX

¶3General Principles to be followed in administration of the Act. The Central Government, the State Governments, the Board, and other agencies, as the case may be, while implementing the provisions of this Act shall be guided by the following fundamental principles, namely:— XXX XXX XXX

(iv) Principle of best interest: All decisions regarding the child shall be based on the primary consideration that they are in the best interest of the child and to help the child to de velop full potential.

(v) Principle of family responsibility: The primary responsibil ity of care, nurture and protection of the child shall be that of the biological family or adoptive or foster parents, as the case may be.

(vi) Principle of safety: All measures shall be taken to ensure that the child is safe and is not subjected to any harm, abuse or maltreatment while in contact with the care and protection system, and thereafter. CWP-26747-2021 -16-2023:PHHC:164341

(vii) Positive measures: All resources are to be mobilised including those of family and community, for promoting the well being, facilitating development of identity and providing an inclusive and enabling environment, to reduce vulnerabilities of children and the need for intervention under this Act. XXX XXX XXX Section 38 Procedure for declaring a child legally free for adoption. 1) In case of orphan and abandoned child, the Committee shall make all efforts for tracing the parents or guardians of the child and on completion of such inquiry, if it is established that the child is either an orphan having no one to take care, or abandoned, the Committee shall declare the child legally free for adoption: Provided that such declaration shall be made within a period of two months from the date of production of the child, for children who are up to two years of age and within four months for children above two years of age: Provided further that notwithstanding anything contained in this regard in any other law for the time being in force, no first information report shall be registered against any biological parent in the process of inquiry relating to an abandoned or surrendered child under this Act.

(2) In case of surrendered child, the institution where the child has been placed by the Committee on an application for surrender, shall bring the case before the Committee immediately on completion of the period specified in section 35, for declaring the child legally free for CWP-26747-2021 -17-2023:PHHC:164341

(3) Notwithstanding anything contained in any other law for the time being in force, a child of a mentally retarded parents or a unwanted child of victim of sexual assault, such child may be declared free for adoption by the Committee, by following the procedure under this Act.

(4) The decision to declare an orphan, abandoned or surrendered child as legally free for adoption shall be tak en by at least three members of the Committee.

(5) The Committee shall inform the District Magistrate, the State Agency and the Authority regarding the number of children declared as legally free for adoption and number of cases pending for decision in the manner as may be prescribed, every month. XXX XXX XXX Section 56 Adoption

(1) Adoption shall be resorted to for ensuring right to family for the orphan, abandoned and surrendered children, as per the provisions of this Act, the rules made thereunder and the adoption regulations framed by the Authority.

(2) Adoption of a child from a relative by another relative, irrespective of their religion, can be made as per the provisions of this Act and the adoption regulations framed by the Authority.

(3) Nothing in this Act shall apply to the adoption of children made under the provisions of the Hindu Adoption and Maintenance Act, 1956 (78 of 1956).

(4) All inter country adoptions shall be done only as per the provisions of this Act and the adoption regulations framed by the Authority.

(5) Any person, who takes or sends a child to a foreign country or takes part in any arrangement for transferring CWP-26747-2021 -18-2023:PHHC:164341 the care and custody of a child to another person in a foreign country without a valid order from the District Magistrate, shall be punishable as per the provisions of section 80. Section 57 Eligibility of prospective adoptive parents.

(1) The prospective adoptive parents shall be physically fit, financially sound, mentally alert and highly motivated to adopt a child for providing a good upbringing to him.

(2) In case of a couple, the consent of both the spouses for the adoption shall be required.

(3) A single or divorced person can also adopt, subject to fulfillment of the criteria and in accordance with the provisions of adoption regulations framed by the Authority.

(4) A single male is not eligible to adopt a girl child.

(5) Any other criteria that may be specified in the adoption regulations framed by the Authority. XXX XXX XXX Section 63 Effect of Adoption A child in respect of whom an adoption order is issued by the District Magistrate, shall become the child of the adoptive parents, and the adoptive parents shall become the parents of the child as if the child had been born to the adoptive parents, for all purposes, including intestacy, with effect from the date on which the adoption order takes effect, and on and from such date all the ties of the child in the family of his or her birth shall stand severed and replaced by those created by the adoption order in the adoptive family: Provided that any property which has vested in the adopted child immediately before the date on which the adoption order takes effect shall continue to vest in the adopted child CWP-26747-2021 -19-2023:PHHC:164341 subject to the obligations, if any, attached to the ownership of such property including the obligations, if any, to maintain the relatives in the biological family. THE ADOPTION RULES 2017 XXX XXX XXX

¶3General principles to be followed in administration of Act.— The Central Government, the State Governments, the Board, the Committee, or other agencies, as the case may be, while implementing the provisions of this Act shall be guided by the following fundamental principles, namely:—

(i) Principle of presumption of innocence: Any child shall be presumed to be an innocent of any mala fide or criminal intent up to the age of eighteen years.

(ii) Principle of dignity and worth: All human beings shall be treated with equal dignity and rights.

(iii) Principle of participation: Every child shall have a right to be heard and to participate in all processes and decisions affecting his interest and the child's views shall be taken into consideration with due regard to the age and maturity of the child.

(iv) Principle of best interest: All decisions regarding the child shall be based on the primary consideration that they are in the best interest of the child and to help the child to develop full potential.

(v) Principle of family responsibility: The primary responsibility of care, nurture and protection of the child shall be that of the biological family or adoptive or foster parents, as the case may be. CWP-26747-2021 -20-2023:PHHC:164341

(vi) Principle of safety: All measures shall be taken to ensure that the child is safe and is not subjected to any harm, abuse or maltreatment while in contact with the care and protection system, and thereafter.

(vii) Positive measures: All resources are to be mobilized including those of family and community, for promoting the well being, facilitating development of identity and providing an inclusive and enabling environment, to reduce vulnerabilities of children and the need for intervention under this Act.

(viii) Principle of non stigmatizing semantics: Adversarial or accusatory words are not to be used in the processes pertaining to a child.

(ix) Principle of non waiver of rights: No waiver of any of the right of the child is permissible or valid, whether sought by the child or person acting on behalf of the child, or a Board or a Committee and any non exercise of a fundamental right shall not amount to waiver.

(x) Principle of equality and non discrimination: There shall be no discrimination against a child on any grounds including sex, caste, ethnicity, place of birth, disability and equality of access, opportunity and treatment shall be provided to every child.

(xi) Principle of right to privacy and confidentiality: Every child shall have a right to protection of his privacy and confidentiality, by all means and throughout the judi cial process.

(xii) Principle of institutionalisation as a measure of last resort: CWP-26747-2021 -21-2023:PHHC:164341 A child shall be placed in institutional care as a step of last resort after making a reasonable inquiry.

(xiii) Principle of repatriation and restoration: Every child in the juvenile justice system shall have the right to be re united with his family at the earliest and to be restored to the same socioeconomic and cultural status that he was in, before coming under the purview of this Act, unless such restoration and repatriation is not in his best interest.

(xiv) Principle of fresh start: All past records of any child under the Juvenile Justice system should be erased except in special circumstances.

(xv) Principle of diversion: Measures for dealing with children in conflict with law without resorting to judicial proceedings shall be promoted unless it is in the best interest of the child or the society as a whole.

(xvi) Principles of natural justice: Basic procedural standards of fairness shall be adhered to, including the right to a fair hearing, rule against bias and the right to review, by all persons or bodies, acting in a judicial capacity under this Act. 7E%phasisoSupp"ied: XXX XXX XXX"o o o @ro%o ao perusa"o o'o theo above,o ito iso evidento thato =heo $induo Minorit(oandoGuardianshipoAct,o*649ode'inesoaoHnatura"o!uardianHoandoSectiono 9o thereo'o reco!niJeso thato ino respecto o'o ao $induo %inoro i.e.o ano i""e!iti%ateo un%arriedo!ir",otheo%otherowou"dobeotheonatura"o!uardian.oSectiono5othereo'o vestsopoweroinoaonatura"o!uardianotoodooa""oactsothatoareonecessar(,oreasonab"eo CWP-26747-2021o -22-o 2023:PHHC:164341o andoproperoforotheobenefitoofotheominorooroforotheorealization,oprotectionooro benefitoofotheominor'soestate.oHence,otheopetitioneroNo.3-motheroofotheominoroiso theonaturaloguardianoofotheosaidochildodespiteosheoherselfobeingoaominor.oTheo petitionersoNo.1oando2oareotheonaturaloguardiansoofopetitioneroNo.o3.oSectiono8o vestso powero ino ao guardiano too doo allo sucho actso whicho areo necessaryo ando reasonableo foro theo careo ando protectiono ofo theo minor.o Theo saido Acto alsoo mandatesothatotheowelfareoofotheominoroisotoobeoofoparamountoconsideration.o o o TheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceoAct,o1956ocodifiesolawso relatingo too adoptiono ando maintenanceo amongsto Hindus.o Theo abovesaido Acto intendsotoosimplifyotheolawoofoadoption.oTheorequisitesoofoaovalidoadoptiono haveobeenoprovidedounderoSectiono6othereof,owhichoprovidesoforotheocapacityo ofotheopersonoadoptingoasowelloasogivingoaochildoinoadoptionoandoaopersonotoobeo adoptedoasowell.oTheopersonocapableoofogivingoaochildoinoadoptionohasobeeno providedounderoSectiono9oandoitostipulatesothatonoopersonootherothanotheomothero orofatheroorotheoguardianoofoaochildoshallohaveotheocapacityoofogivingotheochildo inoadoption.oTheoProvisootheretooisothatosuchorightoshallonotobeoexercisedobyo eithero ofo themo withouto theo consento ofo theo othero unlesso oneo ofo themo haso renouncedo theo worldo oro seizeso too beo ao Hinduo oro haso beeno declaredo byo ao competentoCourtotoobeoofounsoundomind.oFurther,oao'guardian'ohasoalsoobeeno definedounderoSectiono9(1)o(a)otoomeanoaopersonohavingotheocareoofoaopersonooro aochildooroofoboth.oSectiono9oalsoorecognizesotheorightoofotheoguardianotoogiveoao childoinoAdoption.oAoconjointoreadingowouldoestablishothatoonlyotheomotheroofo anoillegitimateochildoisoheroguardianoandorightoofoaoguardianoisorecognizedo independentlyo undero theo Hinduo Adoptiono ando Maintenanceo Act,o 1956.o Ao meaningfuloreadingoofotheosaidoprovisionsowouldoshowothatolawodoesorecognizeo CWP-26747-2021o -23-o 2023:PHHC:164341o anoindependentorightoofotheoguardianotoogiveoaochildoinoadoptionoandoinoaocaseo ofoguardian,otheoconsentoofobiologicalofatherowouldobecomeoinconsequentialo sinceo ano expressiono 'or'o haso beeno usedo ino Theo Hinduo Adoptionso ando MaintenanceoAct,o1956.oHence,oeachopersonohasoitsoownosubstantiveorightotoo doosuchoacts-otootheoexclusionoofoother.oTheoonlyocheckoonotheoguardiansoactoofo givingochildoinoadoptionoisounderoSectiono9(4)oofoTheoHinduoAdoptionsoando MaintenanceoAct,o1956.oAofatherocanobeoaoguardianoinocaseoofoanoillegitimateo child,oonlyoafterotheomother.oTheolawothusodidonotoextendotooconferoanyorightoato paroonofatheroofoanoillegitimateochildoasohaveobeenoconferredoonofatheroofoao legitimateo child.o Recognitiono ofo fathero ofo theo illegitimateo child,o notwithstandingo theo legislativeo intento too theo contrary,o wouldo amounto too violatingo theo statutoryo mandateo ando subjectingo theo statutoryo statuso ofo theo mother,oinosuchocase,obelowothatoofotheofatheroignoringoSectiono6(b)oofotheo HinduoMinorityo&oGuardianshipoAct,o1956oandogivingoanoover-ridingoeffectotoo Sectiono6(a)othereof.oOtheroconditionsoofovalidoadoptionohaveobeenoprescribedo inoSectiono11oofotheosaidoAct.o o o Stillo further,o theo parliamento alsoo notifiedo Theo Juvenileo Justiceo (CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015,owhichowasointendedotooamendotheo laworelatingotoochildrenoinoneedoofocareoandoprotectionobyocateringotootheiro basiconeedsothroughoproperocare,oprotection,odevelopment,otreatment,osocialo reintegrationoandodisposaloofomattersoinotheobestointerestoofochildrenoandoforo theirorehabilitationothroughoprocessesoprovided.oSectiono2(1)oofoTheoJuvenileo Justiceo (Careo ando Protectiono ofo Children)o Act,o 2015o defineso thato ano 'abandonedochild'otoomean,owhoohasobeenodesertedobyohisobiological/adoptiveo parents/guardiansoandohasobeenodeclaredoaso'abandoned'obyotheoCommittee.o CWP-26747-2021o -24-o 2023:PHHC:164341o Sectiono2(9)oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o 2015odefinesotheo'bestointerestoofoaochild'owhicholaysotheobasisoforoanyodecisiono regardingoensuringofulfillmentoofobasicorightsoandoneeds,oidentityoandosocialo wellbeingoetc.oofoaochild.oSub-Sectionso(iv),o(v)oando(vi)oofoSectiono2(14)oofo TheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015odefineoao childoinoneedoofocareoandoprotection.oAccordingotooaboveosaidosub-sections,oao child,owhoseoparentsooroguardianoareofoundotoobeounfitooroincapacitatedotootakeo his/oherocareoandoprotectohis/herosafetyoandowellbeing,oisodeemedotoobeoaochildo inoneedoofocareoandoprotection.oItoalsooincludesoaochildoforowhomonoooneoiso willingotootakeocareoorowhoseoparentsohaveoabandonedoorosurrenderedohim/her.o Sectionso2(31)odefinesoaoguardianoando2(42)oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(Careoando ProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015odefineoano'orphan'ochild,owhichomeansoalsoo aochildowhoseolegaloguardianoisonotowillingooroisoincapableoofotakingohis/hero care.o Similarly,o Chaptero 2,o Sectiono 3o ofo Theo Juvenileo Justiceo (Careo ando ProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015odealsowithotheoprinciplesotoobeofollowedoino administrationoofotheoprovisionsoofotheosaidoActoofo2015oandomandatesothatoallo decisionsoshouldobeoguidedobyotheoprimaryoconsiderationoofobeingoinotheobesto interestoofotheochildoandotoohelpotheochildotoodevelopofullopotential,oensuringo thato allo primaryo responsibilitieso witho regardo too theo care,o nurturingo ando protectionoofotheochildoasowelloasotooensureothatotheochildobeonotosubjectedotoo anyo harm,o abuseo oro maltreatmento etc.o areo takeno intoo consideration.o Theo resourceso oughto too beo mobilizedo foro promotingo theo wellbeing,o facilitatingo developmentoofoidentityoandotooreduceovulnerabilityoofochildrenounderotheoneedo ofocareoandoprotection.oSectiono38oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectiono ofoChildren)oAct,o2015odealsowithotheoprocedureoforodeclaringoaochildolegallyo CWP-26747-2021o -25-o 2023:PHHC:164341o freeoforoadoptionoandothatoifotheoChildoWelfareoCommittee,oconstitutedoundero Sectiono27oofotheosaidoActoofo2015,oopinesothatotheochildoisoanoorphanohavingo noooneotootakeocare,othenoitoshallodeclareotheochildolegallyofreeoforoadoption.o Sub-Sectiono3oofoSectiono38oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofo Children)oAct,o2015ostipulatesothatoanounwantedochildoofoaovictimoofosexualo assaultomayobeodeclaredofreeoforoadoptionobyotheoabovesaidoCommittee.oTheo timeoperiodoprescribedobyotheoCommitteeotooexamineotheosaidoissueoisotwoo monthsofromotheoproductionoofotheochild.oSectiono56oofotheoActoofo2015odealso withotheoissueoofoadoptionoandoSectiono57oofotheoActoofo2015odeterminesotheo eligibilityoofoprospectiveoadoptiveoparents/guardian.o o o Ruleo45oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)o ModeloRuleso2016olaysodownoprocedureoforoobtainingoanoadoptionoorderofromo aocompetentoCourtoandoalsooprovidesothatotheoprocedureolaidodownoinoCivilo ProcedureoCodeoorotheoEvidenceoActoshallonotobeomandatorilyofollowedobyotheo Court.oFurther,otheoGovernmentoalsoonotifiedotheoAdoptionoRegulationso2017o inoexerciseoofopowersoconferredobyoClauseo(c)oofoSectiono68,ooriginaloClauseo3o ofoSectiono2oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o 2015.oTheofundamentaloprinciplesogoverningoadoptionoasoprovidedounderotheo Regulationsoofo2017okeepotheobestointerestoofotheochildotoobeoofoparamounto considerationo ando giveo ao preferenceo too placeo ao childo ino adoptiono witho theo IndianoCitizens.oItoalsoodealsowithotheoaspectoofoaochildowhooisoeligibleoforo adoptiono ando includeso ano orphan,o abandonedo oro surrenderedo childo too beo eligibleoforogivingoinoadoption.oTheoeligibilityocriteriaoofotheoadoptiveoparentso haveoalsoobeenoprescribedoinotheoRegulationo5.oTheoavailabilityoofoaochildoforo adoptionohasobeenoprovidedoinoSectiono8oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(Careoando CWP-26747-2021o -26-o 2023:PHHC:164341o ProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015oandoeveryochildoisolegallyofreeotoobeogivenoino adoptiono onceo theo Committeeo soo declares.o Further,o theo provisionso ofo theo ConstitutionoreferredotooaboveorequireotheoStateotooensureothatoallotheoneedsoofo childrenoareometoandothatotheirobasicohumanorightsoareofullyoprotected.o o o Nowoadvertingotootheofactualoaspectoofotheopresentocase,oitoremainso undisputedothatoinsofaroasotheocapacityoofopetitionersoNo.4oando5oforotakingotheo childoinoadoptionoisoconcerned,otheyofulfillotheorequirementoprescribedoundero differentostatutesoandoareoeligibleotootakeotheochildoinoadoption.oTheodisputeo becomesopeculiaroandohasocomeobeforeothisoCourtoonlyoonoaccountoofotheofacto thatoevenothoughotheominoropetitioneroNo.3obeingomotheroofoanoillegitimateogirlo childoisoheronaturaloguardian,owhooisoentitledoandorecognizedobyolawotootakeoallo necessaryostepsowhichoareoinotheobestointerestoofotheominor,ohowever,oundero TheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceoAct,o1956,oaomother/naturaloguardiano canogiveotheochildoinoadoptionoonlyoafteroobtainingoconsentoofotheofather.oTheo suboregistraroofodocumentsorefusedotooregisterotheoadoptionodeedoforotheosaido reasonoandobyorelyingosolelyoonoSectiono9(2)oofoTheoHinduoAdoptionsoando MaintenanceoAct,o1956oandoignoringotheoscopeoofoSectiono6(b)oofotheoHinduo MinorityoandoGuardianshipoAct,o1956oreadowithoSectiono9(1)oando9(4)oofoTheo HinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceoAct,o1956oasowelloasotheoprovisionsoofotheo JuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015oandotheoruleso framedothereunder.o o o Theoquestionowhichothusoarisesoforoconsiderationoisoasotoowhethero theominoropetitioneroNo.3,owhooisoaomother,oandoisoaonaturaloguardianoundero Sectiono6(b)oofoHinduoMinorityoandoGuardianshipoAct,o1956owouldobeoeligibleo toogiveoheroillegitimateochildoinoadoptionooronot?oItoisoinotheosaidobackgroundo CWP-26747-2021o -27-o 2023:PHHC:164341o thatotheoissueoofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o 2015oalsoogetsoattracted,osinceobothotheominoromotheroandoherominorochildoareo theojuveniles/childrenoinoneedoofocareoandoprotection.oTheopetitioneroNo.3-o minoromother,ohavingobeenosexuallyoabused,owouldofalloinoClauseo2o(14)o(viii)o ofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015oandotheo minoroillegitimateochildowouldofalloinotheointerplayoofoClauseo(vi)oando(vii)oofo Sectiono2(14)oreadowithodefinitionoofo'abandonedochild'ounderoSectiono2(1)oofo TheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015oforowhomonoo oneoisowillingotootakeocareoandoalsooconsideringothatotheo'naturaloguardian'o (minoro petitionero No.3)o herselfo iso unfito ando incapacitatedo too takeo careo ando protectooroprovideoforotheosafetyoorowellobeingoofotheominoroillegitimateogirlo child.o Whileo recognizingo thato Sectiono 6(b)o ofo theo Hinduo Minorityo ando GuardianshipoAct,o1956ooisonotosubjectotooSectiono6(a)othereofoandoSectiono9(1)o ofoTheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceoAct,o1956orecognizesorightoofotheo 'guardian'o(whichoinothisocaseohappensotoobeopetitioneroNo.o3)otoogiveoaochildoino adoptionosubjectotooSectiono9(4)othereofoandotheosaidosectionoisoalsoonotosubjecto tooSectiono9(2)oofoTheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceoAct,o1956-othiso Courtofeelsothatomother-naturaloguardianoofotheoillegitimateominorogirlochildo cannotobeoleftotootheomercyoofoherooppressor.oLawowouldonotointendotooturnotheo minorotooherotormentorotooprotectoandosaveoheroleftooverodignity,ohonouroando prideoandopleadohisoconsentoforoputtingoherolifeoonocorrectionaloandorestitutiveo path.oSuchoanointerpretationoasowouldogiveoanoover-ridingoeffectotooSectiono 9(2)o ofo Theo Hinduo Adoptionso ando Maintenanceo Act,o 1956o ignoringo theo statutoryomandateotoocaterotoocircumstancesosurroundingothisocaseowouldonoto onlyoviolateotheostatutoryoschemeoofootheroprovisionobutowouldoalsoobeohitobyo CWP-26747-2021o -28-o 2023:PHHC:164341o Articleo21oofotheoConstitutionoofoIndia.oTheostatutoryoinferenceothatoflowsofromo aboveo iso thato consento ofo fathero wouldo noto beo necessaryo ino presento circumstancesosinceoSectiono9(2)oofoTheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceo Act,o1956owouldonotobeoattractedoandoauthoritiesoshouldotakeoofoSectiono6(B)o ofoHinduoMinorityoandoGuardianshipoAct,o1956oreadowithoSectiono9(1)oando(4)o ofoTheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceoAct,o1956.oTheolawoshouldothuso recognizeotheorightoofoaomotheroofoanoillegitimateochildoandoacceptoherostatusoaso theosoleoguardianoofosuchochild.oo o o However,osinceoevenotheomotheroinotheopresentocaseohappensotoobeo aominoroandoaochildoinoneedoofocareoandoprotection,othisoCourtofindsostrengtho alsoo ino theo Juvenileo Justiceo (Careo ando Protectiono ofo Children)o Act,o 2015.o Sectiono38o(3)oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o 2015oisotheoonlyoprovisionothatoconsidersounwantedochildoofoaovictimoofosexualo assaultotoobeodeclaredoasofreeoforoadoptionobyotheoCommitteeonotwithstandingo anythingocontainedoinoanyootherolaw,oforotheotimeobeingoinoforce.oSectiono38(3)o ofo Theo Juvenileo Justiceo (Careo ando Protectiono ofo Children)o Act,o 2015o haso furtherobeenogivenoanooverridingopowerounderotheostatutoryoschemeoinorelationo toogivingoanounwantedochildoofoaovictimoofosexualoassaultoinoadoption.oo o o Aoperusaloofotheodocumentsoavailableoonorecordoalsooestablisheso thatotheopetitioneroNo.3owaso13oyearsoofoageoasoonotheodateowhenosheowaso impregnatedodueotoopeneterativeosexualoassaultobyorespondentoNo.4oandothato heroparentsoareoalsooworkingoasoSewadarsoinoaoGurudwara.oTheirofinancialo statusoandoabilityotooup-bringotheoillegitimateochildobornoareothusolimitedoando mayonotosub-serveotheobestointerestoofotheochild.oAdditionally,otheofactotheo rearingo ofo anoillegitimateo childodueo too rapeoonotheiro daughero isoao constanto CWP-26747-2021o -29-o 2023:PHHC:164341o reminderoofotheotraumaoandomayonotobeogoodoforotheosocialoandopsychologicalo wellbeingoofotheominoromothero(petitioneroNo.3)oasowelloasotheochild.oTheosaido childo mayo haveo too suffero theo agonyo ofo ano unwantedo childo ando dealto witho contemptoandohate,oforonoofault.oItoisoalsooevidentothatotheopetitioneroNo.3ooro evenotheopetitionersoNo.1oando2oasoparentsoofopetitioneroNo.3oareonotowello equippedounderotheocircumstancesotooextendobestocareoandofutureoasowelloasotheo overallodevelopmentoofotheominoroillegitimateochildo–(Rxxxx),owhooshallohaveo tooliveoherolifeowithotheostigmaoofobeingoanoillegitimateochild.oItoisoalsooevidento thatotheochildowasobornoono02.03.2021oandohadobeenogivenoinoadoptionotoo petitionersoNo.4oando5oono07.06.2021owhenosheowasoonlyoaboutothreeomonthso old.oUndisputedly,otheosaidochildohasobeenoresidingowithotheopetitioneroNo.4o ando5osinceothenoandorecognizesothemotoobeoheroonlyoknownoparents.o o o ItohasoalsoocomeoforthothatotheoprosecutionooforespondentoNo.4oino theoallegedoFIRowasoinitiatedobeforeotheoFastoTrackoCourtoono12.03.2021,oando aftero theo childo hado alreadyo takeno birtho ono 02.03.2021.o Theo factumo ofo pregnancyoofopetitioneroNo.3owasofullyoknownotoorespondentoNo.4oandothatotheo saidoaspectohadoalsoobeenobroughtoforthoduringotheoevidenceoledobeforeotheoFasto TrackoCourt.oTheoBloodoAuthenticationoFormoofotheobabyogirlodeliveredoono

02.03.2021o(wronglyomentionedoaso03.03.2021oinotheojudgmentoofoFastoTracko Court)oisoEx.P4othatowasoproducedoduringotheotrial.oHence,otheorespondento No.4oasowelloasomembersoofohisofamilyowereofullyoawareoofotheobirthoofoRxxxxo onoaccountoofosexualoassaultocommittedobyorespondentoNo.4.oTheoCFSLoreporto Ex.P22,oproducedoduringotheotrial,oalsooestablishesothatorespondentoNo.4o–otheo accusedowasotheobiologicalofatheroofotheogirlochildonamelyoRxxxxothatowasoborno tootheovictimo(petitioneroNo.3).oTheodefenceotakenobyorespondentoNo.4,oinotheo CWP-26747-2021o -30-o 2023:PHHC:164341o proceedingsobeforeotheoFastoTrackoCourt,owasotootheoeffectothatotheorelationshipo betweenohimoandotheopetitioneroNo.3o(victim)owasoconsensualoandonotoforceful.o Hence,oheooughtonototoobeopenalizedoforotheosame.oAsotheoaspectoofophysicalo assaulto ando consequentialo impregnationo ofo minoro petitionero No.3o agedo 13o yearsostoodoestablished,otheoFastoTrackoCourtorecordedothatoevenoifotheopleaoofo consensualorelationshipobetweenotheovictimoandoaccusedoisoadmittedoforotheo sakeoofoarguments,oyet,obeingoaominoroofo13oyears,osheowasonotocompetentotoo extendo anyo valido consento foro developingo sexualo relationso witho respondento No.4.oDuringotheoargumentsoadvancedoand/oroatotheotimeoofohearingoonotheo quantumoofosentence,otheorespondentoNo.4-fatheroofominoroRxxxxoshowedonoo inclinationoorowillingnessotoosupportooroacceptotheominorochildoorotooextendo careoandoprotectionotooher.oHowever,oitowasopleadedothatoheohimselfoisonotoinoao capacityotoosustainohimselfoandothatoaoleniencyomayobeoshownotoohim.oDespiteo ao lapseo ofo moreo thano twoo years,o respondento No.4o oro hiso familyo memberso showedonooinclinationooroattemptoforolookingoafterotheominorochildooroeveno stakingoanyoclaimooveroher,oonotheobasisowhereof,oitomayobeoassumedothatotheo respondentoNo.4ohasoanyointerestoinotheoupbringing,osafety,ocareoandoprotectiono ofotheosaidochild.oo o o Duringotheocourseoofohearing,othisoCourtohasoaskedoforoaoreport,o videoorderodatedo22.11.2023ofromotheoDepartmentoofoSocialoWelfare,oU.T.o Chandigarhoforoexaminingotheobestointerestoofotheochildoandotheocapacityoofo petitionerso No.4o ando 5o too takeo theo childo ino adoption.o Theo Districto Childo ProtectionoUnit,oMohaliothereafterosubmittedoaoreportoafteroreceivingotheosameo fromotheoDistrictoChildoProtectionoOfficer.oTheorelevantoextractoofotheosaido reportoisoasounder:o CWP-26747-2021 -31-2023:PHHC:164341 "In reference to the above cited subject, it is submitted that a visit was conducted on 11 12 2023 at residence of Gurcharan Singh Virdi and Ms. Kiran Virdi regarding submission of report with respect to the social/financial status of the Petitioners and suggestions as to whether the requirements for giving a child in adoption would be met on socio economic evaluation of Petitioners.  Petitioner no. 4 and 5 own and live in a 9 maris house in Phase 10 Mohali. It is a double story house and used by Petitioners for their own family only i.e. both floors are utilized by the family.  Petitioner no. 4 Mr. Gurcharan Singh Virdi is an advocate at Chamber no. 25, District Courts Complex, Sector 43, Chandigarh  Petitioner no. 5, Ms. Kiran Virdi W/o Petitioner no. 4 is a house wife.  Petitioner no. 4 own property named National Saw Mill at plot # 12, Timber Market, Sector 26, Chandigarh. (ownership certificate is attached)  Petitioner no. 4 jointly owns a 14 marla house with his brother in Panchkula, Haryana  As per the latest ITR furnished by the Petitioner no. 4, his annual income is Rs.18,82,090/ .  Petitioner number 4 and 5 own 2 cars.  Both: Petitioners no. 4 and 5 are of Sikh religious beliefs.  They have 2 full time (residential) maids for household chores and as care taker of children  They have one more daughter named Mehar. She is 2 year old and was born through surrogacy.  Both girl children go to a school Cute Cubs in sector 33 A CWP-26747-2021o -32-o 2023:PHHC:164341o k Theo residence/homeo ofo Petitionero no.o 4o ando 5o lavishlyo decoratedoandomaintained.o k Theo immunizationo cardo ofo Rxxxxo waso alsoo seen.o Hero consultationo ando immunizationo iso doneo ino Chaitanyao HospitaloSector-44,oChandigarh.o k Botho Petitionerono.o 4o ando 5o comeo acrosso aso happyo ando healthyomindedocouple.o k Deemingotheoabove,oitocanobeostatedothatoPetitionerono.o4o ando 5o belongo too uppero financialo stratao society,o economically/ofinanciallyotheyoareoveryosoundotooprovideoao fulfillingo lifeo too theiro children.o Allo theo needso ofo child/childrenocanobeometoeasilyoPetitioneronoo4oando5.o k Ito iso foro youro informationo ando furthero necessaryo actiono please."k o o DistrictoChildoProtectionoUnit,oMohalioasowelloasoDistrictoChildo Protectionoofficeroalsoodidonotoraiseoanyoapprehensionowithorespectotootheobesto interestoofotheochildobeingocompromisedoonoaccountoofotheoadoptionoofotheosaido childobeingogivenotoopetitionersoNo.o4oando5.oOnotheocontrary,oitoisorathero acknowledgedothatotheochildoisobeingotakenocareoofobyotheopetitionersoNo.4oando 5o(adoptiveoparents)oandothatotheyohaveobeenotakingogoodocareoofoallotheiro childrenoincludingotheominoroRxxxx.oTheoreportohavingobeenoreceivedofromotheo Director,oSocialoWelfare,oWomenoandoChildoDevelopment,oU.T.Chandigarho andotheoreportohavingobeenofurnishedobyotheoDistrictoChildoProtectionoOfficer,o S.A.S.oNagaro(Mohali),oitoisodeemedoexpedientoandoinotheofitnessoofothings,o takingointooconsiderationotheopeculiarofactsoandocircumstancesoofotheocase,othato theo detailedo procedureo ando reporto fromo theo Childo Welfareo Committeeo beo exempted.oooThisoCourtohasonooapprehensionoatothisojunctureoandoisosatisfiedo CWP-26747-2021o -33-o 2023:PHHC:164341o abouto theo reporto furnishedo byo theo Districto Childo Protectiono Officer,o S.A.S.o Nagaro(Mohali)oandoforwardedobyotheoDepartment.oTheochildoinoquestionoi.e.o Rxxxxo cano beo deemedo aso ano 'orphan'o childo undero Sectiono 2(42)o ofo Theo JuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015oreadowithoClauseo 2(1)othereofosinceoherolegaloguardianoisonotowillingoandoisonotocapableoofotakingo careoofotheochild.oTheopetitioneroNo.3oi.e.otheomotheroisorecognizedoasoaolegalo guardianobyooperationoofolawoasoperoTheoHinduoMinorityoandoGuardianshipo Act,o1956.oTheoprovisionsoofoTheoHinduoMinorityoandoGuardianshipoAct,o1956o alsoorecognizeotheorightoofoaoguardianotootakeosuchoeffectiveostepsoasorequiredo necessaryotoogiveoaochildoinoadoptionoasoperoSectiono9o(5)o(ia).oItoisoundisputedo thatopetitionersoNo.1otoo3owouldoalsoofallowithinotheodefinitionoofoguardiano havingotheocareoofotheochild.oTheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceoAct,o1956o isoalthoughoaostatuteogoverningoadoption,ohowever,otheoJuvenileoJusticeo(Careo andoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015odealsowithotheoaffairsoandoconcernsoofo Juvenile/Childreno ino conflicto witho lawo oro ino needo ofo careo ando protection.o Sectiono38(3)odealsospecificallyowithochildrenobornooutoofosexualoassault.oTheo aboveosectionostartsowithoaonon-obstanteoclauseogivingoitoanoover-ridingoeffecto onoanyootherostatute.oHenceotheoprovisionowouldofallounderoaospecialostatuteo andonooprecedenceoisotoobeogivenotooTheoHinduoAdoptionsoandoMaintenanceo Act,o1956,owhichowouldobeoaogeneralolaw,oinosuchoaocase.o o o TheochronologyoofofactsoalsooshowothatotheopetitioneroNo.3ohado initiallyosoughtoterminationoofopregnancyounderoTheoMedicaloTerminationoofo PregnancyoAct,1971,ohowever,oasotheofoetusowasomoreo33omonthsoold,otheo MedicaloBoardodidonotorecommendoterminationoofopregnancy.oEvenothereafter,o theo petitionero No.3,o hero parentso i.e.o petitionerso No.1o ando 2o aso wello aso CWP-26747-2021o -34-o 2023:PHHC:164341o respondentoNo.4ohaveoshownonooinclinationotooretain,orearoandobringoupotheo minorochildo–Rxxxx.oItoestablishesothatotheochildoRxxxxoisoanounwantedochildo fromoaovictimoofosexualoassaultoattractingoSectiono38(3)oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo (Careo ando Protectiono ofo Children)o Act,o 2015.o Havingo heldo so,o theo onlyo questionowhichoisoleftoisoasotoowhetherotheochildoinoquestionohasobeenodeclaredo freeo foro adoptiono byo theo Committeeo i.e.o theo Childo Welfareo Committeeo aso constitutedounderoSectiono27oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofo Children)oAct,o2015ooronot.oTheoprocedureoforodeclarationoofoaochildotoobeofreeo foroadoptionoisostipulatedounderoSectiono38oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(Careoando ProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015oandoitorequiresothatoifoitoisoestablishedothato theochildoisoeitheroanoorphanooroabandonedohavingonoooneotoocare,otheosaidochildo shallo beo declaredo byo theo Committeeo too beo legallyo freeo foro adoption.o Theo definitionoofo'Orphan'oando'abandoned'oasoperotheoprovisionsoofoTheoJuvenileo Justiceo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o2015oareodefinitelyoattractedotoo theocaseoofoRxxxxoasoneitheroofotheoparentsoi.e.otheopetitioneroNo.3oorotheo respondentoNo.4oareowillingotootakeoupotheoresponsibility,ocareoandoprotectiono ofotheochildoandoasosuch,otheosaidochildofallsowithinotheodefinitionoofoano'orphan'o underoSectiono2(42)oofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)o Act,o2015oandohasotheoshadesoofoano'abandonedochild'ounderoSectiono2(1)oofotheo saidoActoofo2015.oTheopetitionersoNo.o1-3ohaveoshownonooinclinationotooretaino orobringoupotheochild.oTheorequirementotooseekoaodeclarationoforotheochildobeingo legallyofreeoforoadoptionowouldobeonecessaryoonlyotoomakeoeffortsoforotracingo theoparents/guardianoofotheochildoandotoocomeotooaoconclusionoasotoowhetherotheo childoisoanoorphanooroabandonedochildooronot.oSinceotheosaidoaspectoisonoomoreo inodispute,orelegatingotheocaseoforoseekingoaoreportoand/orodeclarationofromotheo CWP-26747-2021o -35-o 2023:PHHC:164341o Committeeo wouldo onlyo beo ao formalityo causingo bureaucratico delayo ino theo presentocase.oMoreover,otheorequirementotoosubmitoaoreportoinoaocaseoofochildo lessothano2oyearsoofoageoisowithinoaoperiodoofo2omonthsoandoinootherocaseo4o months.oAomucholongeroperiodohasoalreadyoelapsedoduringotheotimeowhenothiso caseohasoremainedopendingobeforeothisoCourtoandotheoauthoritiesowereoseizedoofo theofacts.o o o Ino theo peculiaro circumstanceso ofo theo caseo ando takingo intoo considerationothatotheoentireofactualolegalobackgroundoisoundisputedoandoalsoo consideringothatoneitherorespondentoNo.4onorotheopetitioneroNos.o1otoo3oareo willingo too takeo responsibilityo ofo Rxxxo oro haveo evero stakedo anyo claimo foro seekingo theo custodyo ofo theo saido child,o thiso Courto iso ofo theo viewo thato theo requiremento ofo aodeclarationo fromo theo Childo Welfareo Committeeo iso onlyo ao proceduralo formalityo ando theo sameo iso noto likelyo too sub-serveo anyo largero interest.oInotheototalityoofotheocircumstances,othisoCourtoholdsothatotheochildo "Rxxx"oisolegallyofreeoforoadoption.oo o o Takingo intoo considerationo theo parameterso prescribedo undero ChapteroVIIoofoTheoJuvenileoJusticeo(CareoandoProtectionoofoChildren)oAct,o 2015oandotheorespectiveoeligibilityoofotheopartiesoandotheoguidelinesoalongwitho theoreportoreceivedofromotheoChildoWelfareoCommitteeoasowelloasotheoAdoptiono Regulations,o2017,oitoisoheldothatothereoisonoolegaloimpedimentooroprohibitiono againstogivingotheochildoRxxxxoinoadoption.oo o o Whileoholdingoso,othisoCourtoisofullyoconsciousoofotheopeculiaro natureoofotheopresentocaseoasoalsootheosocio-economicostatusoofotheopetitionerso No.1otoo3oandoalsootheofactothatotheominoroRxxxxoisoanounwantedochildoofo sexualoassaultocommittedoonopetitioneroNo.3,owhooisonowo15oyearsoofoageoando CWP-26747-2021o -36-o 2023:PHHC:164341o isopursuingoherostudies.oTheopetitionersoNo.1otoo3oareoresidingoinoaoroomoinoao Gurudwaraoandohaveonoomeansotooprovideoanyobetterofacilityoasocomparedotoo whatotheopetitionersoNo.4oando5ohaveotoooffer.oBesides,otheorearingoofotheochildo byopetitionersoNo.1otoo3oshallobeostigmaticoandotraumaticonotoonlyoforopetitionero No.3obutoalsooforotheominoro–Rxxxx.oTheoatmosphereoofobeingobroughtoundero disdainoandomeagerofinancialoresourcesoforoanounwantedochildowouldodefinitelyo notobeohealthyoforotheofutureoprospects,omentalostabilityoandowellbeingoofotheo childoandowouldonotosub-serveotheooverallodevelopmentoofotheosaidochildoaso well.oTheoburdenoisothusoonothisoCourtotooexamineoasotoowhatoisobestosuitedoforo theo wellbeingo ofo theo minoro childo ino theo presento caseo whereo theo biologicalo parentso areo unfito ando incapacitatedo eithero ono accounto ofo theiro age,o socialo circumstancesooroonoaccountoofocontinuedoincarcerationoinojailoandowhoohaveo expressedonoowillingnessotootakeocareoofotheochildobyotheiroexpressooroimpliedo actoand/oroconduct.oBesides,otheominorochildohasobeenoresidingowithopetitionerso No.4oando5osinceo07.06.2021oandoisomoreothano2½oyearsoofoageoandowouldonoto beorecognizingoanyootheropersonoapartofromotheopetitionersoNo.4oando5oasohero parents.oAnyoorderoorodirectionoforoseparationoofominorochildofromopetitionerso No.4oando5oatothisostageoisolikelyotoobeotraumaticoevenoforotheosaidominorochild.o TheoCourtohasoalsoonoticedothatotheopetitionersoNo.4oando5ohaveovolunteeredo willinglyotootakeotheogirlochildoinoadoptionowithoutoanyoinhibitionoandoalsootheyo haveo producedo theo relevanto medicalo evidenceo too suggesto thato theo DNAo profilingoandodisordersomakeoitodifficultoforothemotoogiveobirthotooanyohealthyo child.o Havingo alreadyo losto theiro twoo children,o theo petitionerso No.4o ando 5o stronglyo wanto too takeo theo childo ino adoption.o Theo respondento No.4o i.e.o theo biologicalofatherohasobeenoawardedoaosentenceoofo20oyearsobyotheoCourtoandoito CWP-26747-2021o -37-o 2023:PHHC:164341o seemsohighlyoimproperothatoheowouldohaveoanyonaturalolove,oaffection,oaffinityo orodesireotooundertakeotheoresponsibilityoofoRxxxxo(minorochild).o o o Hence,otakingointooconsiderationotheostatutoryoprovisionsoreferredo too aboveo aso wello aso theo wello beingoofo theo child,o Ioamo ofo theo opinionothato mandatingoconsentofromotheofathero(RespondentoNo.4)owouldonotobeoattractedo inotheofactsoofotheopresentocase.oo o o Sinceotheoissueoofodeclarationoofotheochildotoobeolegallyofreeoforo adoptionohasoalreadyobeenoexaminedoandoruled,oIoamoofotheoopinionothatotheo presentopetitionodeservesotoobeoallowed.oo o o TheorespondentoNo.3-Sub-RegistraroofoDocuments,oChandigarhoiso directedotooregisterotheoAdoptionoDeedodatedo07.06.2021ogivingominoroRxxxx,o bornoono02.03.2021,oinoadoptionotoopetitionersoNo.4oando5,oinoaotimeoboundo mannerowithoutoraisingoanyofurtheroobjection(s)owithorespectotootheolackoofo concurrenceofromotheobiologicalofatheroand/orodelayoandoonopresentationoofotheo saidodocumentsofororegistration.o o o Petitionostandsoallowedoaccordingly.o o o o o o o o o o o o (VINODoS.oBHARDWAJ)o

19.12.2023.oo o o o o o oooooJUDGEo rajendero o o Whetherospeaking/reasonedo :oYes/Noo o o Whetheroreportableo o :oYes/Noo