File photo of Bombay High Court.
The Centre has informed the Bombay High Court that it was ready to look into the grievances of people about the new guidelines on child adoption issued by Central Adoption Resource Agency (CARA), an autonomous body under the Ministry of Women and Child Development.
This was conveyed by Additional Solicitor General (ASG) Anil Singh yesterday to a bench headed by Justice VM Kanade which was hearing a public interest litigation challenging the new CARA guidelines.
During the course of hearing, the bench inquired about objection raised by Missionaries of Charity founded by Mother Teresa to these guidelines, to which the government said it was ready to hear grievances of people/organistions in this regard.
The PIL has been filed by an adoptive parent and an unwed mother questioning the revised guidelines.
The petitioners have challenged the online selection procedure, where out of six children the prospective adoptive parent or parents had to choose only one, failing which they would go to the bottom of the waiting list.
The ASG said that before framing new guidelines, suggestions were invited but if still there are objections and complaints, the parties would be heard and attempt will be made to resolve their grievances.
The bench said it appeared that the state government had no role to play in the new guidelines and felt that the Centre and the state should coordinate among themselves.
The Federation of Adoption Agencies in Maharashtra also filed an intervention application, saying they were opposed to online procedure of intra and inter-country adoptions because not many people may be familiar with the technology.
However, the court asked the federation to file a separate petition on this issue and did not allow their intervention.
The High Court has posted the matter for hearing on October 28.