Devise a system to ascertain medical condition of adopters

MUMBAI: The Bombay high court has directed the Central Adoption Resource Authority (Cara) to devise a mechanism to ensure that all important aspects of adoption proposals, including medical condition of prospective adopters, are taken into consideration before granting non-objection certificate (NOC) for an adoption. This comes after Cara cleared the adoption of an Indian child by a Belgian couple though both of them suffered from serious health conditions.

“Considering what has happened in the present case, things cannot be left as they stand,” said justice GS Kulkarni and directed the ministry of women and child development to “oversee and have random surveys of Cara’s functioning at all levels by deputing appropriate officers from the ministry.”

Justice Kulkarni stated that Cara, in August 2019, had granted NOC for the adoption of a threeyear-old Indian boy by a Belgian couple, without analysing the health conditions of the adopters.

While the man suffered from Charcot Marie Tooth, an inherited disorder, his wife had undergone a heart transplant and required continuous medication. The court thus summoned Cara director Sanjay Barshilia and joint director Dr. Jagannath Pati. Both appeared before the court on February 17 and agreed that there were serious lapses in the case. Barshilia also informed the court that the NOC granted to the Belgian couple will be revoked.

Justice Kulkarni said Cara is expected to scrutinise every proposal of adoptive parents. “The reports should be placed before medical experts for their comments in context of the future of the child to be given for adoption,” he added.

The judge said that reports from medical experts should be included in the adoption file. Under the law, high courts are required to approve both intracountry and international adoptions. The court has posted the matter for further hearing on March 26.