Wednesday 22 May 2013

Legal guardian is appointed by Juvenile Justice Board,it is valid in eye of law.


 IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM

                                                PRESENT:

                          THE HONOURABLE MR.JUSTICE A.M.SHAFFIQUE

             WEDNESDAY, THE 7TH DAY OF NOVEMBER 2012
                                   WP(C).No. 32026 of 2006 (K)
                                   -----------------------------------------

PETITIONER(S):
-----------------------

          1. JOHNSON C.N., AGED 42 YEARS,
         
RESPONDENT(S):
-------------------------

          1. UNION OF INDIA, REPRESENTED BY
            
    

Citation;2013(2)Crimes 247 (kerala)

     Petitioners       have adopted              a minor child,       Dalwin by

approaching the Juvenile Justice Board, Thrissur. Ext.P3 is the order

passed by the Board. Even prior to that they had obtained order from

the Family Court, Thrissur for custody of the minor child which is

evident from Ext. P1.

     2.   According to the petitioners, when they approached the

respondent for obtaining Visa for their travel to USA, the place of

residence of the petitioners, the documents of the minor were not

accepted on the ground that Exts.P1 and P3 were not sufficient legal

documents to prove the adoption. Petitioner hence inter alia seeks the

following reliefs:


          "i)    Issue a writ of mandamus directing the

          respondents to obey and accept Exts.P1 & P3

          judicial orders as a final and conclusive formality

          as far as Indian Christians are concerned in the

          matter of adoption;

          (ii) To declare that Exts.P1 & P3 are the final proof

          of adoption as           far as        Indian Christians are

          concerned and no other procedure is in force to

          establish guardianship and adoption;

W.P.(C) No. 32026 of 2006 - K
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      3.    The second respondent was removed from the party array

as per order in I.A. No. 11148/2009. The first respondent has not

filed any counter affidavit.

      4.    To grant the declaration as prayed for, reference to the

provisions to the Juvenile Justice       (Care and Protection of Children)

Act, 2000 is S. 41 deals with adoption which reads as under.

           41. Adoption.--(1) The primary responsibility for

           providing care and protection to children shall be that

           of his family.

           1[(2) Adoption shall be resorted to for the rehabilitation

           of the children who are orphan, abandoned or

           surrendered through such mechanism as may be

           prescribed.

           (3) In keeping with the provisions of the various

           guidelines for adoption issued from time to time, by the

           State Government, or the Central Adoption Resource

           Agency and notified by the Central Government,

           children may be given in adoption by a court after

           satisfying itself regarding the investigations having been

           carried out, as are required for giving such children in

           adoption.

           (4) The State Government shall recognise one or more of

           its institutions or voluntary organisations in each

           district as specialised adoption agencies in such manner

W.P.(C) No. 32026 of 2006 - K
                                       3

           as may be prescribed for the placement of orphan,

           abandoned or surrendered children for adoption in

           accordance with the guidelines notified under sub-

           section (3) :

           Provided that the children's homes and the institutions

           run by the State Government or a voluntary organisation

           for children in need of care and protection, who are

           orphan, abandoned or surrendered, shall ensure that

           these children are declared free for adoption by the

           Committee and all such cases shall be referred to the

           adoption agency in that district for placement of such

           children in adoption in accordance with the guidelines

           notified under sub-section (3).]

           (5) No child shall be offered for adoption--

           (a) until two members of the Committee declare the child

           legally free for placement in the case of abandoned

           children,

           (b) till the two months period for reconsideration by the

           parent is over in the case of surrendered children, and

           (c) without his consent in the case of a child who can

           understand and express his consent.

           2[(6)   The court may allow a child to be given in

           adoption--

           (a) to a person irrespective of marital status; or

W.P.(C) No. 32026 of 2006 - K
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            (b) to parents to adopt a child of same sex irrespective of

            the number of living biological sons or daughters; or

            (c) to childless couples.]



      5. Section 41(3) clearly        indicates that     adoption of children

may be given by a court after satisfying itself regarding the

investigation having been carried out as are required for giving such

children in adoption.       Sub-section (6) of S. 41 further indicates that

the court may allow a child to be given in adoption under certain

circumstances.

      6.       Ext.P1 judgment is      an order for custody of the minor

passed under Ss.7 and 10 of the Guardian and Wards Act. Ext.P3

is an order passed by the Juvenile Justice Board on the basis of an

application filed under S.41 read with Rule 37 (6) of the              Kerala

Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Rules. Rule 37(6)

(a), (e), (j), (k) and (m) reads as under:

          "(a) Every petition for adoption shall be submitted

          before the Board by the         Superintendent/Officer-in-

          charge of the recognized Children's Home/Placement

          Agency under the Act.

                  xx     xx       xx             xx

          (e) The Board shall undertake a process of enquiry

          which      shall include interviewing the        prospective

W.P.(C) No. 32026 of 2006 - K
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         parents, verifying the documents           and scrutiny

         reports. If the Board is satisfied that the placement

         is in the best interest of the child, it shall pass a final

         order giving permanent custody to the            adoptive

         parent/parents. An order of adoption shall be signed

         by the Principal Magistrate besides one of the two

         Members of the Board.


               xx                xx         xx


         (j) No formal form      of ceremony for the      adoption

         under the Act is required and the order issued by the

         Board shall be      a final Adoption Order. Once an

         Adoption Order is issued, it cannot be cancelled and

         the adoptive      parents cannot be discharged of their

         responsibilities as such.

         (k) If the parents have already been appointed as

         legal guardian by the competent court, then           they

         need only produce      the certified copy of the order

         before the Board and the Board after conducting a

         formal enquiry, may issue an Adoption Order. Before

         issuing the order, the Board shall consider a report of

         the Probation Officer regarding the present condition

         of the child and family.

               xx                xx         xx

         (m) The adoptive child is entitled to get all the rights

         as that of a natural born child with respect to the

         adoptive parents.     A copy of the adoption order

         shall be forwarded to the Director of Social Welfare

W.P.(C) No. 32026 of 2006 - K
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         by the Juvenile Justice Board".




      7. By virtue of the above Rules, once a legal guardian is

appointed by the Juvenile Justice Board,it is valid in the eye of law.

      In the result it is declared that Ext.P3 order is a valid order of

adoption and is legally enforceable as per Indian Laws.




                                        A.M.SHAFFIQUE,
                                             JUDGE






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