Adoption agency yet to shift babies
Adoption agency yet to shift babies
R Gokul,TNN | Jul 3, 2014, 06.33 AM IST
TRICHY: More than two weeks after the Madurai bench of the Madras high court ruled that babies at the Sisters of Cross Society for Education Development (SOCSEAD) in Trichy should be shifted to other registered adoption agencies, the process is yet to begin at the centre.
The high court ruling came as the renewal of recognition for SOCSEAD is not yet complete. The centre is now waiting for the state adoption resource agency (SARA) to shift the babies soon.
In its order dated June 17, the high court bench comprising justices V Ramasubramanian and V M Velumani said, "SOCSEAD does not hold any valid recognition as on date either for keeping the children or for giving them in adoption. So long as they do not have a valid recognition, custody of the children and their attempt to give the children in adoption are only illegal."
The court passed the order based on a petition filed by A Narayanan of Chennai who had filed a writ petition based on the report of the child welfare committee (CWC) about the 'appalling conditions' in which the abandoned children were living in SOCSEAD. A joint inspection by CWC chairman, members, probationary officer and district social welfare department officials was conducted at the home on March 25 and 27 this year as the agency's recognition had expired on April 21, 2013.
After the recognition expired, the agency could not get it renewed from the state government so far. Moreover, the recognition granted by the central adoption resource agency (CARA) of the ministry of women and child development was only valid for three years till December 19, 2013. Nevertheless, the agency provided care and protection to the children. The continuation of the adoption agency without renewal of recognition was challenged by Narayanan. Following the arguments of Narayanan's counsels, SOCSEAD and other respondents, the court passed the order to shift the children.
District social welfare officer M Usha said that the committee formed by SARA would execute the high court orders to shift the children. "SARA would form a committee to shift the children from SOCSEAD as per the court order," said Usha.
When contacted, Dr Maria Kamalam, director of SOCSEAD exuded confidence that the children in their home will not be shifted. "The children will not be shifted because we are assured by the authorities that the recognition would be renewed. We are awaiting the inspection from the team of officials from SARA which would recommend the renewal," Dr Kamalam told TOI.
Asked as to why the government delayed renewal of recognition for the agency for more than one year, she said, "This question should be posed to the government."
While pronouncing the order, the court also gave a ray of hope to the agency that it can file for modification of the report if it gets the renewal of recognition. "If the petitioner is able to get renewal of registration, then the agency shall file modification of this order," the judges had said.
"The court order should be executed on an urgent basis. The children were not given for adoption for the past one year. They should be given to the parents who are waiting for adoption. But they are kept in the adoption agency for more than six weeks," said Narayanan.