BJP ex-MLA’s kin moves SC to cancel ‘miracle baby adoption’ process

Bareilly: In 2019, she was found abandoned in an earthen pot, having survived the night, and got the name "miracle baby" (the court addressed her only as ‘S’). Later, in December 2022, some right-wing activists lodged an FIR against the orphanage in Bareilly and a Malta-based couple that adopted her, charging them with "wrongful conversion” and alleged that the orphanage staff had changed the baby’s faith and made her an Aadhaar card with a “new Christian name”. Thereafter, theDelhi HC in December directed the UP government "not to harass the orphanage staff and stop the proceedings under the unlawful conversion law in the FIR". It also directed the UP administration “not to create hurdles in the baby’s adoption process or her journey to Malta with her adoptive parents.” However, now the nephew of former BJP MLA Pappu Bhartaul aka Rajesh Mishra, Amit, has approached the Supreme Court seeking “cancellation of the adoption of the miracle baby” as he alleged “there are discrepancies in the adoption process”. He said, “The Central Adoption Resource Authority (CARA) doesn’t share complete information about the children on their website and special preference is given to parents from European countries.” Amit’s advocate Shraddha Saxena said, “My client wanted to adopt the girl in question but her details are not listed on the CARA website. As of now, the SC has held the adoption process and ordered that the girl shall remain at the place where she is residing.”The next date of hearing in the matter is February 6.